Air China Restarts Beijing–New Delhi Flights as India–China Air Links Recover

Air China is resuming direct flights between Beijing and New Delhi on April 21, restoring a nonstop link between the two capitals after a gap of about six years. The service is scheduled to operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, marking another step in the gradual revival of air connectivity between India and China.

The return of the route is significant because direct flights between the two countries had been suspended since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent deterioration in bilateral ties after the Galwan Valley clash froze passenger connectivity. The broader reopening began in late 2025, when India and China moved to restart direct services after more than five years of disruption.

Industry tracking data cited by Aviation Week says Air China will operate the Beijing Capital–New Delhi route with Airbus A330-300 aircraft, offering about 1,800 two-way weekly seats. It also becomes the only nonstop air connection currently linking the national capitals of India and China.

The resumption comes as capacity between the two countries is slowly rebuilding. Aviation Week reports that IndiGo resumed mainland China services in October 2025, China Eastern returned in November 2025, and Air India restarted flights in February 2026. Even so, current seat capacity remains below pre-pandemic levels, showing that the recovery is still incomplete despite recent progress.

Air China’s return signals a cautious normalization of commercial links between two major Asian economies, with aviation once again becoming a visible indicator of improving business, tourism and people-to-people exchange.