Air China Announces Beijing-Delhi Flights, Boosting India-China Travel And Trade Links

Air China will resume direct flights between Beijing and New Delhi, marking another significant step in the gradual normalisation of bilateral ties between India and China after years of strained relations.

The development was announced by Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, who described the move as going beyond aviation connectivity and reflecting broader cooperation between the two countries.

Beijing-Delhi air link returns amid improving ties

Sharing the update on X, Yu Jing wrote, "Air China resuming direct flights between Beijing & Delhi, more than just travel!"

The resumption of Air China's direct Beijing-New Delhi service is being seen as a symbolic and practical move toward restoring normalcy in India-China relations, with the flight route expected to strengthen trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

IndiGo also joins expanding India-China air corridor

The announcement comes as IndiGo has also revealed plans to launch direct flights between New Delhi and Shanghai, and is set to become the third airline operating on the route.

Air connectivity between the two countries has been steadily improving over the past year. India and China resumed air services last year after a gap of nearly five years, signalling a clear thaw in ties.

On February 1, Air India announced the resumption of its Shanghai-Delhi direct service, restarting operations on the route after a six-year break. Before that, Chinese carrier China Eastern had launched flights from Shanghai to Delhi in November last year.

With Air China now reviving the Beijing-Delhi connection and more carriers entering the sector, the aviation corridor between the two Asian neighbours is seeing a broader revival.

From Galwan freeze to diplomatic re-engagement

India-China ties had sharply deteriorated after the deadly Galwan Valley clash in 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed.

A visible diplomatic shift began in August 2023, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. During the meeting, both leaders agreed to intensify efforts to de-escalate tensions.

That process gathered further momentum in August 2025, when PM Modi visited China for the first time in six years. During the visit, he held talks with Xi Jinping at a time when both countries were facing punitive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

China signals support as trade tensions with US deepen

Later in August 2025, Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong, speaking at an event in New Delhi, underlined Beijing's support for India in the face of Washington's trade actions.

At the event, Xu Feihong said China opposes the US administration's steep tariffs on India and would "firmly stand with India".

The restart of direct Beijing-New Delhi flights by Air China, along with the growing number of services between Indian and Chinese cities, is now being viewed as another visible sign that both sides are seeking to rebuild confidence and restore more stable bilateral engagement.