Air China Resumes Beijing-Delhi Flights Amid India-China Relations | India News
Beijing-Delhi flights resume as China, India expand air links amid warming ties
Direct air connectivity between India and China is set to improve further as Air China resumed its Beijing-Delhi service from Tuesday, marking the second route reinstated to India by the Chinese carrier this month. The service will operate three times a week – Tuesday, Friday and Sunday using Airbus A330 aircraft Economy class fares are expected to start at 3,570 yuan (about USD 523), scheduled to depart Beijing at 3:15 pm and arrive in Delhi at 8:20 pm local time.
The second route will reopen this month
The move follows the recent resumption of flights by China Eastern Airlines, which resumed direct service between Kunming and Kolkata on April 18. The Kunming-Kolkata route operates six weekly round-trip flights using Boeing 737 aircraft. China Eastern Airlines had earlier relaunched the Shanghai-Delhi route in November 2025.Indian airline IndiGo is also increasing its presence in China. On March 30, IndiGo started its inaugural daily non-stop service between Kolkata and Shanghai using its A320neo aircraft. Earlier, IndiGo re-introduced flights on the Kolkata-Guangzhou route and launched the Delhi-Guangzhou route on November 10, 2025. According to April operational data, IndiGo has maintained passenger load factors between 68 percent and 85 percent on multiple China-India routes, with popular routes such as Delhi-Guangzhou showing particularly strong performance.
warm relationship
The expansion of air connectivity comes amid signs of warming ties between India and China. Last month, India approved easing restrictions on Chinese investment in select sectors including electronics, capital goods and solar cells, restoring economic ties after six years of friction.Earlier in March, the Union Cabinet approved changes in FDI policy guidelines on investments in countries sharing land borders with India, including China, which provide a deadline for approvals in key sectors.
Expert view
Qian Feng, Director of the Research Department of Tsinghua University’s National Strategy Institute, told the Global Times that more airlines from both sides increasing their services has positive implications for further strengthening the momentum of bilateral relations.“This trend not only facilitates the exchange of workers between the two countries but also represents a more practical step to reduce supply chain costs and facilitate travel for technology companies and the manufacturing sector,” Qian said.
