Air India to Resume Flights to China in February 2026 After 6-Year Pause

Air India announced on Monday that it plans to resume flights to China from New Delhi in February 2026, nearly six years after services were suspended. The carrier also revealed plans to launch a Mumbai–Shanghai route later next year, though both developments remain subject to regulatory approvals.

The resumption follows a broader easing of India-China aviation links, with China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport recently announcing the restoration of flights between the two nations. Air India confirmed that the move reflects growing diplomatic engagement and trade cooperation.

“The reinstatement of Air India’s services to Shanghai follows recent India-China diplomatic agreements that restored the air links paused in early 2020,” the airline said in a statement.

The decision comes in the wake of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China earlier this year, his first in seven years, to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional security bloc. During the visit, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that India and China are development partners, not rivals, and discussed strengthening trade ties amid global tariff uncertainties.

The restart of direct flights is expected to facilitate business, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the two Asian giants, while also boosting bilateral trade, which has faced several hurdles in recent years. Travel analysts have noted that renewed air connectivity will provide much-needed momentum to Indian businesses looking to explore opportunities in China and vice versa.

Air India’s planned resumption is part of a broader strategy to expand international connectivity. Officials emphasized that safety protocols, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency will be top priorities as services resume.

Industry experts also see this move as a positive signal for regional diplomacy, highlighting India and China’s willingness to overcome past tensions to focus on shared economic and development goals.

With commercial and diplomatic channels opening again, passengers can expect improved travel options between the two nations by early 2026, making it a landmark moment in India-China civil aviation history.