Kolkata, October 26, 2025 – In a landmark move underscoring the gradual warming of ties between India and China, low-cost carrier IndiGo kicked off daily direct flights between Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on Sunday evening. The inaugural flight, IndiGo 6E 1923, is set to depart at 10 p.m. IST, carrying around 180 passengers and marking the end of a five-year suspension that began amid the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened border tensions.
The resumption comes at a pivotal moment in bilateral relations, which have seen incremental progress since a border disengagement agreement in late 2024. Diplomatic dialogues, including the 24th Round of Special Representatives' talks in August 2025, have paved the way for renewed people-to-people and economic exchanges. "This is not just about flights; it's a symbol of trust rebuilding between two Asian giants," said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a briefing in New Delhi, highlighting how eased visa norms and trade talks have facilitated the route's revival.
IndiGo, India's largest airline by market share, announced the service in an October 2 press release, emphasizing its role in boosting connectivity for business travelers and tourists. The four-hour non-stop journey operates on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with return flights (6E 1924) departing Guangzhou at 1:20 a.m. local time and arriving in Kolkata by 4:50 a.m. IST. Fares start at ₹15,999 one-way, positioning it as an affordable option compared to previous connecting routes via Bangkok or Singapore. "We're thrilled to reconnect these vibrant cities, fostering stronger economic ties and cultural exchanges," IndiGo spokesperson Deepak Rajawat told reporters at the airport.
The Kolkata-Guangzhou link, once a bustling corridor for traders and students, was halted in March 2020 due to global lockdowns and further strained by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which led to a broader freeze in direct aviation. Bilateral trade, however, has remained robust—reaching $136 billion in FY24—driven by Chinese electronics imports and Indian pharmaceuticals exports. Analysts view the flight resumption as a pragmatic step in what experts describe as a "tactical pause" rather than full thaw, with relations in a "management mode" of controlled engagement.
For West Bengal, the route holds strategic promise. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who flagged off the flight symbolically via video link, noted it could invigorate the state's jute and tea sectors while attracting Chinese investments in manufacturing hubs like Falta Special Economic Zone. "This opens doors for our youth in IT and services to tap into Guangzhou's tech ecosystem," she said. Passenger footfall is expected to surge, with early bookings already 80% full, per airport data.
Yet, challenges persist. While flights from Delhi to other Chinese cities are slated for November, full normalization awaits resolution on issues like Ladakh patrolling and tech export curbs. Aviation experts caution that geopolitical flare-ups could disrupt schedules, but for now, the skies seem a tad friendlier.
As the aircraft taxied for takeoff, carrying a mix of entrepreneurs, families, and first-time flyers, it embodied cautious optimism. In the words of a boarding passenger, Kolkata-based exporter Rajesh Mitra: "Five years is too long. Here's to bridges, not barriers." With Diwali lights twinkling outside, the flight's ascent tonight isn't just routine—it's a beacon for mending fences in Asia's most populous neighborhood.
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