Air China Resumes Direct Flights Between Beijing and New Delhi, Signaling Improved Relations
Air China has announced the resumption of direct flights between Beijing and New Delhi, a move seen as a significant step towards restoring normalcy in bilateral relations. This comes alongside IndiGo's plans to start flights between New Delhi and Shanghai, marking a renewed focus on connectivity between the two nations. The announcement follows a period of strained relations after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Recent meetings between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping have aimed at reducing tensions, indicating a potential thaw in relations. Discover more about the implications of these developments and what they mean for future interactions between India and China.
Mar 21, 2026, 16:25 IST
Air China Restarts Flights, Enhancing Bilateral Ties
Air China has announced the resumption of direct flights between Beijing and New Delhi, marking a significant step towards normalizing bilateral relations. This announcement was made by Yu Jing, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in India, who emphasized on 'X' that the restart of these flights represents much more than just travel.
IndiGo is set to launch direct flights between New Delhi and Shanghai, becoming the third airline to operate flights between these two cities. Last year, India and China resumed air services after nearly five years, indicating an improvement in their bilateral relations. On February 1, Air India announced the restart of its direct flights from Shanghai to Delhi, marking the return of services after a six-year hiatus.
Additionally, China Eastern Airlines began flights from Shanghai to Delhi in November of last year. Relations between India and China deteriorated following the deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and 4 Chinese soldiers. In August 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, agreeing to intensify efforts to reduce tensions.
In August 2025, Prime Minister Modi visited China for the first time in six years, where he discussed issues with Xi Jinping in light of the punitive tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on both nations. At the end of that month, Chinese Ambassador Zhu Fihong stated at an event in New Delhi that Beijing opposes the heavy tariffs imposed on India by Washington and stands firmly with India.