China Southern Airlines to resume Delhi flights after six-year hiatus

China Southern Airlines announced on Saturday that it will resume scheduled flights on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route beginning September 21, ending a prolonged gap in direct air services between the two nations. The Guangzhou-based carrier, one of China's major airlines, will operate the route as part of its expanded South Asia network.

With the resumption of the Delhi service, China Southern Airlines will operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in the South Asian region. The announcement underscores growing efforts to restore bilateral connectivity between India and China.

Direct flight services between the two countries were suspended in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic and were not resumed during the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh, which persisted for over four years until its resolution in October 2023. The resumption of regular air services reflects the gradual normalisation of ties between New Delhi and Beijing.

The development comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping visits India to attend the BRICS summit and engage in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on strengthening diplomatic and economic relations.