Air China Resumes Direct Delhi–Beijing Flights After 6 Years, Boosts India–China Air Connectivity
Air China Resumes Direct Delhi Beijing Flights
Air China has resumed its non-stop flight service between Delhi and Beijing after a gap of nearly six years, restoring direct air connectivity between the two capitals that was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later geopolitical tensions.
The airline will operate flights three times a week—on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—using Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft. The resumption is expected to reduce travel time significantly, as passengers earlier had to depend on connecting routes via hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, or Bangkok, often increasing both journey time and ticket costs.
The restart comes at a time when air traffic between India and China is gradually recovering. Industry data shows that passenger load factors on existing routes such as Delhi–Guangzhou and Kolkata–Shanghai are currently ranging between 68% and 85%, indicating steady demand from business travellers, students, and trade-related movement.
In recent months, multiple airlines have also expanded services on India–China routes. China Eastern Airlines has resumed connections such as Shanghai–Delhi and Kunming–Kolkata, while Indian carriers like IndiGo have introduced and expanded flights to Shanghai and Guangzhou. These developments point toward a broader restoration of aviation links between the two countries.
Experts believe the renewed connectivity will support faster movement of people and goods, especially for sectors like manufacturing, technology, education, and tourism. It is also expected to help reduce supply chain delays and improve business travel efficiency between the two economies.
The resumption of direct flights is being seen as part of a gradual improvement in bilateral engagement, reflecting growing demand for travel and trade between India and China after several years of restricted movement.
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