Sep 12, Kathmandu - The long-standing suspension of direct air travel between India and China is set to end as China Southern Airlines announced the resumption of flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi starting September 21. The move coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in India to attend the BRICS Summit.

According to PTI news agency, China Southern Airlines revealed on Saturday that it will operate regular flights on the Guangzhou-Delhi route. The airline stated that with this service, the number of weekly flights by the airline to South Asia will exceed 100, covering eight routes in the region.

The direct flights between India and China were stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although travel restrictions eased over time, ongoing tensions between the two countries, especially along the eastern Ladakh border, prevented the quick resumption of regular air links. The prolonged military standoff and diplomatic strains had severely impacted connectivity.

The decision to resume Guangzhou-Delhi flights is seen as a positive step towards re-establishing people-to-people and business contacts between the two nations. It also indicates a move towards thawing the frosty relations that have persisted over the past few years.

BRICS Summit Context:

The announcement comes during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin are all participating—marking their first joint appearance at a BRICS summit in nearly a decade, since 2016 in Goa.

Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in India today, while Putin has already reached New Delhi. The revival of direct flights and the top-level meetings are viewed as potential steps toward improving dialogue and expanding communication channels between the two nations, which have experienced a cooling of relations over recent years.