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Air China to resume direct Beijing New Delhi flights, signaling a step toward restoring normal bilateral ties between China and India.
Planes belonging to Air China are parked on the tarmac of Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
Air China has announced the resumption of direct flights between Beijing and New Delhi, with the development being seen as an effort toward restoring normalcy in bilateral ties.
The announcement was made by Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India. In a post on ‘X’, she wrote, “Air China resuming direct flights between Beijing & Delhi, more than just travel!”
✈️ Air China resuming direct flights between Beijing & Delhi = more than just travel! 🛫🌏It’s Trade 📦 Tourism 🏯🕌 Trust 🤝 — and a BIG green light 🟢 for SCO & BRICS people-to-people cooperation! 🇨🇳🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/E3sisBJdyb
— Yu Jing (@ChinaSpox_India) March 21, 2026
IndiGo Plans To Launch Flights Between Delhi, Shanghai
IndiGo also announced to launch direct flights between New Delhi and Shanghai and is soon to become third airline to operate flights between the two cities.
Last year, India and China resumed air services after a hiatus of about five years, signaling a thaw in the bilateral ties.
On February 1, Air India announced the Shanghai-Delhi direct flight, resuming its flight services between the two cities after a six-year gap.
In addition, Chinese airline China Eastern launched flights from Shanghai to Delhi in November last year.
Thaw In Ties
The ties between India and China soured after the deadly Galwan Valley clash back in 2020, killing 20 Indian troops and 4 Chinese soldiers.
In August 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met each other in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and agreed to intensify efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Cut to August 2025, PM Modi made his first-ever visit to China in the last six years, and held talks with Xi against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs on the two nations.
Later in the month, Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong said at an event in New Delhi that Beijing opposes Washington’s steep tariffs on India, asserting it will “firmly stand with India”.
March 21, 2026, 15:21 IST
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