India-China direct flights will start operating again on October 26 following a five-year halt

The external affairs ministry announced on Thursday that India and China will resume direct flights between a few locations after a five-year break, adding that the action will help to gradually normalize bilateral relations. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping's October 2024 meeting in the Russian city of Kazan, the reinstatement of direct aviation services—which had been banned since 2020—was discussed in a number of meetings.

According to a statement from the external affairs ministry, since early this year, the Chinese and Indian civil aviation authorities have been having technical conversations about restoring direct flights and updating an air services agreement. The government's "approach towards gradual normalization" of bilateral relations included this.

"After these talks, it has been decided that direct flights between specific locations in China and India can start up again by late October 2025, in accordance with the winter schedule, provided that the designated carriers from both countries make a business decision and meet all operational requirements," the statement read.