Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Delhi-Guangzhou Flights Resume, Restoring Key India-China Business Link
China Southern Airlines plans to restart direct flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi on September 21.
The route has been paused for nearly six years.
Flights were disrupted after the Covid-19 pandemic and tensions between India and China.
The announcement happened when Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit.
Guangzhou is a large city in southern China and is called the Southern Gateway to China.
Its airport connects travellers to many places around the world.
Indian traders use Guangzhou’s markets to buy products such as clothes, accessories and electronics.
The direct flight will make travel between the two cities easier because travellers will not need to change planes in another country.
China Southern Airlines will resume regular Guangzhou-New Delhi passenger services on September 21 after nearly six years.
The announcement came as President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit.
The route’s suspension followed pandemic-era restrictions and worsening India-China ties after the Doklam and Galwan standoffs.
Guangzhou serves as a major aviation, commercial and wholesale-sourcing hub for Indian traders and businesses.
China Southern plans more than 100 weekly flights across eight South Asian round-trip routes.
- Who
- China Southern Airlines announced the resumption; President Xi Jinping was visiting New Delhi for the BRICS Summit.
- What
- Regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi will resume after nearly six years.
- When
- The service is scheduled to restart on September 21; the announcement was made on Saturday morning.
- Where
- The route connects Guangzhou in China with New Delhi in India.
- Why
- The resumption will restore direct India-China air connectivity and support business travel, trading and tourism.
- Airline
- China Southern Airlines
- Route
- Guangzhou-New Delhi
- Service restart
- September 21
- Suspension period
- Nearly six years
- Planned regional network
- More than 100 weekly flights across eight South Asian round-trip routes
- Business community
- Around 3,000 Indian traders and business professionals are estimated to be based in Guangzhou
- Alternative transit routes
- Nearly five lakh passengers travelled between India and China via Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong in 2024
