(CHINA) India and China are preparing to bring back direct passenger flights for the first time since early 2020, with an announcement expected around the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin at the end of August 2025. Multiple outlets, led by Bloomberg, report that the first departures could take off as early as September 2025, though no formal government notice has been published as of August 12, 2025. Indian officials have asked domestic airlines to be ready to start routes on short notice, signaling that detailed planning is already moving ahead.

The direction to airlines points mainly to Air India and IndiGo on the India side, while Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern are seen as likely Chinese counterparts, matching the carriers that served the market before the pandemic. The Times of India, Economic Times, India Today, and other Indian outlets have echoed the late-August announcement window tied to the SCO summit, noting that agencies such as the civil aviation ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have not provided on-record confirmation yet.

Timeline and venue: a September restart tied to the SCO summit

Officials familiar with the talks cited by Bloomberg say the restart could be announced on the sidelines of the SCO meeting starting August 31 in Tianjin, with first flights possible in September 2025. Reports say Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend; a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping has been mentioned in coverage but remains unconfirmed.

Until governments publish notices and airlines load schedules, timing can still shift, and travelers should not assume firm dates.

Both governments would need to settle near-term seat entitlements and city pairs. Before 2020, nonstop services linked major metros—Delhi and Mumbai in India—with Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in China. Sources quoted in Indian media suggest a phased restart is likely, starting with a limited number of weekly frequencies and scaling up as demand and approvals allow.

Planned operational steps include:
1. Governments agree on city pairs and weekly entitlements.
2. Airlines file schedules and obtain airport slots.
3. Carriers open fares for sale and begin ticketing.

Airlines and officials will also weigh aircraft types and bellyhold cargo capacity, as direct flights reduce time for high-value goods and urgent shipments. Business groups are watching for fresh capacity that can cut travel times and logistics costs compared with current routings through hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore.

What this means for travelers and companies

For now, no direct booking inventory is live. Travelers must continue to route via third-country hubs until airlines publish new schedules. Once an announcement comes, expect inaugural schedules with limited frequencies, changing prices, and possible introductory fares.

Corporate and traveler actions to prepare:
– Ensure travel policies and insurer notifications are ready to be updated quickly.
– Verify traveler documents (visas, passports) ahead of booking.
– Monitor airline advisories for any route-specific health or transit requirements.
– Book early if specific dates are required; first-wave frequencies may be low.
– For students and families, allow extra time for document checks at check-in during the initial weeks.

Visa and diplomatic context: VisaVerge.com reports that a restart would align with steps in 2024 where India eased some visa limits for Chinese tourists and both sides reported progress in border disengagement talks. That broader context helps explain why the SCO summit may be chosen to mark a controlled reopening in air links. Still, officials and airline executives have stressed the need for patience until official notices are issued.

Traveler checklist once schedules appear:
– Confirm visa status before booking (check current visa category and validity for China; PRC nationals should confirm India’s updated entry policies).
– Read airline advisories on any remaining health or transit requirements.
– Book early due to likely low initial frequencies.
– Allow extra time for document checks at check-in during the early weeks.

Operational sequence and likely carriers

Indian media outline the typical sequence:
– Bilateral aviation understanding on city pairs and weekly flights.
– Route permissions from DGCA and traffic rights from China’s Civil Aviation Administration.
– Slot confirmations at airports.
– Schedule filing and sales.

For authoritative updates, monitor the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s press releases at https://moca.gov.in/en/media/press-releases. Airline websites will carry the first booking-ready schedules once clearances are in place.

Market expectations:
– Likely Indian starters: Air India and IndiGo, most likely on Delhi–Beijing or Delhi–Shanghai (Mumbai pairings possible later).
– Likely Chinese starters: Air China, China Eastern, China Southern.
– Pre-pandemic patterns suggest a gradual ramp-up, but no seat caps or flight counts have been published.

Open questions as of August 12, 2025

Unresolved items include:
– Exact start date for the first flight
– Confirmed city pairs and weekly frequencies
– Ticket fares and introductory pricing
– Whether the relaunch will include cargo-only add-ons or start passenger-first
– Any route-specific health checks or operational rules

While most COVID-19 health checks have been rolled back globally, travelers should watch airline and airport advisories in case specific rules are introduced during the restart period.

Practical impacts: time, cost, and demand

• Direct nonstops should cut total travel times by several hours versus one- or two-stop itineraries.
• If capacity rises steadily, total journey costs could fall compared with connecting flights.
• Initially, expect higher prices on peak days due to low frequency and strong demand from business travelers, students, and families.
• Companies relying on frequent India–China travel should plan for variable fares until schedules stabilize.

Sector-specific benefits:
– Students: easier arrivals ahead of autumn terms at Chinese universities.
– Families: simplified visits to relatives in China’s major cities.
– Small exporters: shorter order cycles via direct bellyhold capacity.
– Travel agencies: quick updates required to routing options, fare searches, and client briefings.

Diplomatic and media framing

Diplomatically, the move would signal measured progress after a long freeze prompted by the pandemic and subsequent border tensions. Indian media have described the resumption as a confidence-building step—neither a full reset nor a minor gesture, but a practical bridge to restore people-to-people and business ties while broader negotiations continue.

Key stakeholders to watch in the coming weeks:
– India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA
– China’s aviation regulators and major airports
– Booking portals and official sites of Air India, IndiGo, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern

Broadcast and print coverage: WION, the Economic Times, and the Times of India have aligned around a possible September start if the SCO-timed announcement occurs; Bloomberg’s early reporting remains the reference point on timing.

Bottom line: Momentum is real and airline teams are standing by, but until governments publish official notices and carriers load flights for sale, travelers should continue planning via transit hubs and keep documents current. The first direct tickets between India and China in five years could appear soon after the SCO summit—if the final pieces fall into place.