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India China Flight (Kolkata–Guangzhou Flight) Takes Off, Rekindling Air Links Between India and China

In a landmark development for bilateral connectivity and diplomacy, direct flights between India and China have officially resumed after a gap of five years, with the inaugural Kolkata–Guangzhou flight taking off from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI), Kolkata, on Sunday night.

Operated by IndiGo Airlines, flight 6E1703 departed at around 10 PM IST on October 26, carrying 176 passengers, including business delegates, students, and tourists, marking the revival of a once-bustling route between eastern India and southern China.

The India China Flight landed safely in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, symbolising what officials are calling a “renewed era of cooperation and people-to-people exchange.”

✈️ The India China Flight Route Returns After Five Years of Hiatus

This non-stop service was last operational in early 2020 before being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions following the Galwan Valley clashes. The revival of this route is being seen as a cautious but meaningful diplomatic move from both sides.

According to IndiGo’s official statement, the Kolkata–Guangzhou service will operate daily, connecting two major business and cultural hubs using the modern Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Kolkata airport officials celebrated the occasion with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and special refreshments for passengers, marking the significance of the first India–China flight since 2020.

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🌏 Diplomacy and Development in Motion

The resumption of India China Flight services signifies a subtle but powerful thaw in the frosty relations between New Delhi and Beijing.

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong, who called it a “very important day”, emphasised that connectivity is the foundation of peace and mutual prosperity. He added, “The reopening of this route marks not just the resumption of flights, but the rekindling of friendship between two ancient civilisations.”

Indian officials echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that improved mobility will strengthen trade, investment, and educational exchanges, especially for students pursuing courses in Chinese universities and businesses exploring supply-chain cooperation.

📦 Trade, Tourism, and Regional Growth

The Kolkata–Guangzhou corridor has historically served as an essential gateway for electronics, textiles, and machinery trade, as well as a transit hub for students and medical tourists.

With this flight back on schedule, eastern India’s exporters are expected to gain faster access to the industrial heartland of China, while Chinese companies will find it easier to tap into India’s growing consumer market.

Travel experts predict that the route could soon witness strong passenger demand, particularly from students, business travellers, and tourists seeking short, direct access between the two nations.

For Kolkata Airport, this flight enhances its status as an international hub, opening doors for more airlines to restore or launch routes to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kunming, and Singapore.

🔍 What’s Next: More Routes in the Pipeline

The resumption of the India China Flight (Kolkata–Guangzhou flight) is only the beginning.

• Delhi–Guangzhou flights are expected to launch on November 10, followed by a Shanghai–New Delhi connection on November 9, indicating a gradual restoration of pre-pandemic connectivity levels.
• Aviation analysts believe these routes could also pave the way for cargo agreements and new codeshare partnerships between Indian and Chinese airlines.

🗣 Voices from the Ground

Passengers expressed enthusiasm and relief. “Before this, we had to transit through Bangkok or Singapore — now it’s a straight, time-saving flight,” said a business traveller from Kolkata.

Another passenger, a Chinese national working in India, shared, “This flight makes me feel that relations are normalising. I hope more flights follow soon.”

💡 Expert Take

An aviation analyst commented:

“This isn’t just a commercial flight — it’s a message. It signals a step forward in post-pandemic diplomacy, where trade and travel can co-exist even amidst strategic caution.”

🛫 Conclusion: India China Flight is a Bridge Beyond Borders

The reopening of the Kolkata–Guangzhou air route is a tangible milestone in re-establishing confidence between India and China. Beyond convenience, it embodies the spirit of regional cooperation and pragmatic engagement — where economic logic, people-to-people ties, and the desire for stability outweigh prolonged estrangement.

As the first aircraft soared westward from Kolkata’s skies toward Guangzhou, it carried not just passengers — but renewed hopes for a smoother, more connected Asia.

Keywords: India China Flights, Kolkata Guangzhou Route, IndiGo Airlines, India China Relations, Direct Flights Resumption, NSCBI Airport Kolkata, Bilateral Trade, Tourism, Diplomacy, India China Flights opening,

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#IndiaChina #KolkataGuangzhou #IndiGo #AirConnectivity #AviationNews #IndiaChinaRelations #KolkataAirport #Guangzhou #TravelNews #News24Media