Skift Take

Two tourism powerhouses, two economic giants, two of the world's most populous countries — and yet, not a single direct flight between India and China.

Peden Doma Bhutia

In December 2019, India and China were connected through 539 direct passenger flights. Now there are none.

IndiGo and Air India had operated flights to China while Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, had connected Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to Indian cities.

The two countries suspended these flights during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent border clashes in June 2020 – there are still thousands of troops mobilized on both sides.

A recent Reuters report said that China has been pushing to resume direct air links between the two countries, but India remains cautious due to the strained diplomatic relations.

Current Travel Routes and Costs

In the absence of direct flights, travelers between India and China must rely on connecting flights through third countries, such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore. The detour adds time and cost.

In 2019, a round-trip economy class ticket between New Delhi and Beijing typically ranged betwee