After a five-year hiatus, direct air travel between India and mainland China resumed on Sunday with the launch of a daily non-stop service from Kolkata to Guangzhou.

IndiGo operated the inaugural flight from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI), to Guangzhou, China (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport) carrying 176 passengers. A brief ceremony at the airport included the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by a passenger, a small gesture that airport officials said symbolised renewed ties and cooperation between the two countries.

Dr P. R. Beuria, airport director of NSCBI, said the revived route will do more than move people. He said it will boost business, tourism and cargo links between eastern India and southern China. The Airports Authority of India called the resumption a “milestone” for the nation’s aviation sector.

The Kolkata–Guangzhou service will also offer convenience for travellers who previously had to fly via other cities. IndiGo plans to add a daily Delhi–Guangzhou flight from November 10. China Eastern is set to restart its Shanghai–Delhi service on November 9, and Air India is expected to resume China flights before the end of the year.

“With the cheapest one-way fare from Kolkata to Guangzhou currently available at approximately Rs 11,003 (and a round-trip fare around Rs 24,397), travelers now have a direct and more convenient option. Though historical data suggests April is the most economical month to travel on this route, the main benefit today is the restoration of a vital aerial bridge, marking a truly historic day in recent times,” said an official.

China Eastern Airlines is also preparing to restart its Shanghai-Delhi route on November 9.Air India is also expected to resume its own China flights before the end of the year.

The resumed services mark a step toward rebuilding air connectivity that was severed during the Covid-19 pandemic and later affected by border tensions.