Air India has announced that it will resume flights between New Delhi and China beginning in February two thousand twenty six, marking the end of nearly six years of suspended connectivity between the two countries. The move is being widely viewed as a sign of cautiously improving diplomatic relations and a gradual reopening of bilateral links that had been frozen since the early stages of the global pandemic.
In a statement released on Monday, the airline confirmed that passenger services to Shanghai will be reinstated early next year. The carrier also revealed plans to launch a new route connecting Mumbai and Shanghai later in the year, although that service will depend on receiving the necessary regulatory approvals from both governments.
According to Air India, the decision to bring back the China routes follows recent diplomatic agreements between New Delhi and Beijing that restored aviation links paused in early two thousand twenty. This comes in parallel with broader efforts by both countries to stabilise relations and rebuild cooperation after years of tension. Last month, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China also announced that flights between the two nations would soon resume, further signalling a coordinated reopening of air travel.
Earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a regional security platform that includes several major Asian powers. During the visit, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held discussions in which they agreed that India and China should regard each other as development partners rather than rivals. Both leaders highlighted the need to strengthen economic and trade relations at a time when global markets are unsettled by tariff disputes and geopolitical uncertainties.
The return of Air India’s China services is expected to boost business travel, academic exchanges and tourism between the two countries. Analysts say the reopening of these routes could also help reduce logistical challenges faced by Indian companies sourcing materials from China and support new commercial partnerships in sectors like technology, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.
This renewed air connectivity follows similar steps by other carriers. Last month, IndiGo, India’s largest budget airline, resumed its flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou, becoming the first Indian airline to restart service to mainland China since the pandemic. Aviation experts say these gradual reopenings reflect improving confidence between the two governments and a shared interest in restoring stable travel corridors.
While tensions have not fully disappeared, the resumption of commercial flights marks a meaningful shift toward more normalised ties. For many travellers and businesses, the return of direct routes represents a long awaited sign that relations between Asia’s two largest nations may be entering a more cooperative phase.
