Air India Marks Return to Mainland China After Nearly Six Years
Tata Group-owned Air India is set to recommence direct flight operations between Delhi and Shanghai starting February 1, 2025, ending a nearly six-year absence from mainland China. The airline becomes the third carrier to restore direct air connectivity between India and China following recent diplomatic agreements between the two nations.
Flight Schedule and Aircraft Details
The national carrier will operate four weekly flights on the Delhi-Shanghai route using its modern twin-aisle Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. This service restoration comes after Air India first launched operations to mainland China back in October 2000, marking a significant milestone in the airline's international network expansion.
In an official statement released Monday, Air India confirmed that the reinstatement follows recent India-China diplomatic agreements that restored air links previously paused in early 2020. The airline also revealed plans to introduce non-stop flights between Mumbai and Shanghai in the coming year, pending regulatory approvals.
Broader Context of India-China Air Connectivity
Air India's announcement comes as part of a broader resumption of direct flight services between the two Asian giants. Budget carrier IndiGo was the first to restart direct services with flights connecting Kolkata and Guangzhou from late October, followed by its Delhi-Guangzhou route earlier this month. Chinese carrier China Eastern Airlines has also commenced direct flights between Delhi and Shanghai.
The restoration of air connectivity follows years of suspended operations that began in early 2020, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic that halted international flight operations globally. However, even as global aviation recovered, direct flights between India and China remained suspended amid deteriorating bilateral relations following the 2020 standoff in Eastern Ladakh.
Diplomatic Thaw and Economic Implications
The breakthrough came in early October when the Ministry of External Affairs announced that India and China had agreed to permit direct flights between the two countries as part of the 2025 winter schedule starting October 26. This development followed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to New Delhi in August, where both nations agreed to resume direct flight connectivity "at the earliest" and facilitate visa issuance for tourists, businesses, media, and other visitors.
The absence of direct flights had significant consequences for travelers and airlines alike. Passengers faced high airfares and extended travel times as they were forced to take connecting flights through hub airports in Southeast Asia. Industry insiders noted that airlines from both countries had been eager to restart direct services given the substantial demand for travel between the world's two most populous nations.
Market Share and Future Prospects
Prior to the pandemic shutdown, the India-China air corridor was substantial. In December 2019, there were 539 scheduled direct flights monthly between the two countries, offering cumulative seat capacity exceeding 125,000. Indian carriers—IndiGo and Air India—accounted for 168 flights (approximately 31%), while Chinese airlines dominated with nearly 70% share operated by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Shandong Airlines.
However, aviation industry observers suggest that the market dynamics may have shifted since 2019. Air India, now privatized and well-capitalized, has ambitious growth plans in the international market, while IndiGo is increasingly focused on expanding its international network. This could potentially alter the historical market share distribution once direct connectivity is fully restored.
The normalization of air connectivity is expected to benefit airlines from both nations, though Chinese authorities believe their carriers stand to gain more given their previous dominant market position. This perception likely explains China's persistent efforts to encourage India to permit re-establishment of direct air connectivity and normalize visa issuances for Chinese nationals.
Currently, passenger traffic between India and China—solely through connecting hubs in South and Southeast Asia—stands at less than half of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, with airlines from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam capturing this traffic. Hong Kong airport, despite its special autonomous status, continues to be the leading connecting hub between India and mainland China.
