India, China Discuss Restoring Direct Flights

Direct flights between India and China were suspended in early 2020 amid the Covid‑19 pandemic and heightened border tensions following the Galwan Valley clash that year. (Representational Image: PL)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the two countries had agreed “in principle” to restart flights after foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing in January

New Delhi: India and China have concluded an initial round of discussions on restoring direct air services, civil aviation secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said on Monday April 14, 2025 at an Indian Chamber of Commerce conference on aviation and tourism. While calling the talks “constructive,” Vualnam noted that “some issues remain unresolved,” and additional meetings will be scheduled.

Direct flights between the two countries were suspended in early 2020 amid the Covid‑19 pandemic and heightened border tensions following the Galwan Valley clash that year. Prior to the halt, airlines operated dozens of weekly services linking Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kunming with New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

Momentum for resumption has grown in recent months. In March, Chinese Consul‑General in Kolkata Xu Wei said both sides were in “continuous dialogue” on restoring connectivity, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the two countries had agreed “in principle” to restart flights after foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing in January.

Vualnam also addressed domestic concerns over rising airfares, stressing that India’s deregulated market limits government intervention. He said a Directorate General of Civil Aviation monitoring unit tracks price spikes and that the AirSewa portal will soon highlight fares so passengers can lodge complaints about excessive pricing. According to the secretary, the highest fare buckets account for only about 1 percent of total tickets sold.

SpiceJet chief customer officer Kamal Hingorani, citing IATA data, said Indian fares remain the lowest in the Asia‑Pacific region. He noted, however, that most tickets purchased 30 days in advance are sold below cost, with profitability emerging only closer to departure. Hingorani added that 16 Indian carriers have folded over the years, leaving just five in operation, underscoring the need for market “maturity” to achieve sustainable profitability.