India and China to Resume Direct Flights - Beyond Borders By Prajila New Delhi |Oct 03, 2025 | BeyondborBersbyJwala

In a significant move signaling a potential thaw in bilateral relations, India and China have agreed to resume direct air services by late October 2025. This development marks the end of a nearly six-year suspension that began in the wake of the violent border clashes in 2020.

The decision was announced following a series of technical-level discussions between the civil aviation authorities of both nations. According to an official statement, the resumption of flights is a key part of the Indian government's strategy for the "gradual normalization of relations" between the two Asian giants.

The Frozen Corridor

Direct air connectivity between India and China was severed in early 2020, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the suspension was prolonged indefinitely following the deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which marked the most serious military confrontation between the two countries in decades. The border standoff in eastern Ladakh led to a sharp deterioration in diplomatic and economic ties, with both nations implementing retaliatory measures, including the suspension of visas and a freeze on high-level exchanges.

For years, travelers, including students, business professionals, and separated families, have had to endure long and expensive journeys through third countries like Hong Kong, Dubai, or Singapore to travel between India and China.

A Cautious Thaw 

The new agreement will allow designated carriers from both countries to operate direct flights connecting specified cities, aligning with the upcoming winter aviation schedule. The final go-ahead, however, depends on the commercial viability for airlines and the fulfillment of all necessary operational criteria.

Officials have framed this agreement as a crucial confidence-building measure. The statement highlighted that it "will further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges."

This step is the latest in a series of careful diplomatic maneuvers aimed at stabilizing the relationship. While multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks have led to disengagement in some friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the broader border dispute remains unresolved and a source of deep mistrust.

The decision to restore air links suggests a mutual desire to compartmentalize the contentious border issue from other aspects of the relationship, such as trade, travel, and cultural exchange. While this move is a welcome development for many, observers remain cautious, emphasizing that a complete normalization of ties will hinge on a lasting resolution to the military standoff in Ladakh.