After a gap of nearly five years, direct commercial air connectivity between India and China has been restored, with the resumption of flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou. The first IndiGo flight departed from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Sunday night at 10 p.m., carrying 176 passengers aboard an Airbus A320 Neo aircraft.
This marks the revival of one of eastern India’s most important international air routes, which had remained suspended since early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions between the two nations. The route was previously a vital link for business travelers, students, and traders from eastern and northeastern India who frequently visited China for commercial and educational purposes.
Symbol of Renewed Cooperation
According to airport officials and aviation experts, the resumption of the Kolkata–Guangzhou service symbolizes a thaw in India-China aviation relations and a gradual normalization of bilateral exchanges. The move is expected to boost economic, cultural, and tourism ties between the two Asian neighbors, especially given the large number of Indian medical students and business professionals connected to southern China.
A senior official from the Kolkata airport said, “This is a significant step toward rebuilding the air bridge between eastern India and southern China. The route was always commercially viable, and resuming it now opens doors for trade and travel that were long on hold.”
Daily Flights Planned
IndiGo, which operated the first resumed flight, plans to run daily services between the two cities, offering travelers a direct four-and-a-half-hour connection without the need for transits through Delhi or Bangkok. The return flight from Guangzhou to Kolkata is scheduled to arrive early morning, providing convenient onward connections to major Indian metros.
The airline is also considering introducing cargo services on the same route, catering to the growing trade in electronics, textiles, and machinery between India and China.
Boost for Eastern India’s Trade and Connectivity
The Kolkata–Guangzhou route has long been viewed as a critical air link for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) based in eastern India that import goods from China. Before the suspension, the route served not only business travelers but also a growing number of Chinese tourists visiting Buddhist heritage sites in Bihar and Bengal.
Industry insiders believe that restoring this air corridor could help Kolkata reclaim its status as an international gateway for eastern India and neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
“This resumption could reenergize the local economy. Traders in Siliguri, Guwahati, and Kolkata have been waiting for a direct route to Guangzhou for years,” said a member of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce.
Positive Outlook for Future Expansion
The resumption comes amid gradual normalization of air travel between India and China. Several other airlines are reportedly in talks to restart or introduce new routes connecting Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu, and Kunming with Indian metros.
Experts say the revival of direct flights could pave the way for renewed people-to-people contact, increased student mobility, and potential joint ventures between companies from both countries.
With this, Kolkata once again becomes the only eastern Indian city to have a direct air link with mainland China — a development that aviation observers say will play a key role in deepening cross-border cooperation in the post-pandemic era.