China Southern Airlines will resume regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi from September 21, marking the airline’s return to the India route after a six-year gap.
The announcement comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
China Southern had suspended its India services following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The resumption of the Guangzhou-New Delhi route is expected to further expand direct air connectivity between India and China.
According to Global Times, the restart will take China Southern’s operations across eight round-trip routes in South Asia to more than 100 flights per week.
India-China Flight Connectivity Expands
Air connectivity between India and China has gradually increased following years of disruption.
Several airlines are now operating or restarting services between the two countries:
- IndiGo announced its China routes in November 2025.
- Air India resumed regular New Delhi-China services in February 2026.
- Air China restarted its Beijing-New Delhi service in April 2026.
- China Eastern Airlines resumed its India operations in November 2025.
- China Southern Airlines is now set to restart its Guangzhou-New Delhi service from September 21.
The expansion of direct flights could support business travel, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Xi Jinping to Meet PM Modi in Delhi
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam. He is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The discussions are expected to cover several important areas, including border issues, trade and economic relations, travel and tourism cooperation, and regional security.
Xi is also expected to announce new initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation among countries of the Global South. These proposals are expected to build on initiatives he previously presented at the SCO Summit in Bishkek.
Xi’s delegation includes Cai Qi, Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
India-China Relations Still Face Challenges
India-China economic and business ties have improved in some areas since the 2020 Galwan border tensions. The approval of business visas for Chinese professionals and easing of restrictions on the purchase of Chinese equipment in India have contributed to the improvement.
India has also said that more than 100 Chinese products are considered critical to Indian factories, highlighting the importance of Chinese equipment and components to several industrial sectors.
However, significant challenges remain. Both countries continue to maintain substantial military deployments along their borders, including areas of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Visa-related difficulties surrounding the procurement of additional Chinese equipment and components have also remained an issue, particularly for the development of India’s electronics sector.
China’s role in India’s military conflict with Pakistan last year has added another layer of complexity to bilateral relations. While Beijing was not directly involved in the four-day conflict, Pakistan relied heavily on Chinese-made fighter jets and missiles.
Against this backdrop, the resumption of China Southern Airlines’ Guangzhou-New Delhi flights represents another step toward restoring direct connectivity between the two countries, even as broader diplomatic and security challenges continue.
