IndiGo Adds Second Direct Flight from India to China

IndiGo, one of India's leading airlines, marked a significant milestone by launching its second direct flight route to China this month. Flight 6E 1701 successfully arrived in Guangzhou from Delhi, signaling a new era of enhanced connectivity between the two nations.

This recent flight follows the resumption of the Kolkata-Guangzhou service on October 26, positioning IndiGo as the first Indian airline to reinstate direct flights to the Chinese mainland after a hiatus of five years. The reestablishment of these routes is poised to boost travel options and stimulate economic and cultural exchanges between India and China.

Linking Delhi, the capital of India, with Guangzhou, a crucial business and manufacturing hub in South China, enhances direct connectivity between the two countries. IndiGo's strategic move aims to cater to the growing demand for air travel, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its international footprint.

Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, emphasized the airline's readiness to launch new routes swiftly, as evidenced by the rapid reintroduction of the Kolkata-Guangzhou service. He expressed the airline's aspirations for growth, noting that the combined population of India and China accounts for one-third of the global population and the significance of air connectivity in this context.

Elbers highlighted the urgency of capitalizing on this opportunity, articulating IndiGo's proactive approach in preparing for the renewed Kolkata-Guangzhou route. Following official announcements from both countries, IndiGo promptly activated its operational plans, ensuring all necessary permits and approvals were secured within a two to three-month timeframe.

The recent decision to resume direct flights was officially confirmed by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who noted that this development reflects the sincere efforts of both parties to fulfill the important consensus reached between their leaders during a meeting in Tianjin.

This initiative serves as a fundamental step towards fostering improved relations and friendly exchanges between the Chinese and Indian populations, which together exceed 2.8 billion. Furthermore, the demand for the Kolkata-Guangzhou route has been nearly insatiable, with Elbers reporting near full occupancy rates.

Trade relations between China and India have flourished over the years, with China recognized as India's largest trading partner. In 2024, bilateral trade figures reached approximately $138.478 billion, marking a year-on-year growth of 1.7 percent, which demonstrates the potential of this market.

In a sign of heightened competition and market activity, China Eastern Airlines announced plans to increase flight frequency in response to strong demand. The airline is also set to reinstate the Kunming-Kolkata route and introduce a new Shanghai Pudong-Mumbai route, enhancing air connectivity further.

Looking ahead, Elbers expressed confidence in the market dynamics, highlighting the ample room for multiple operators in this burgeoning sector, primarily driven by the sheer population size of both countries. He revealed IndiGo's ambitions to explore new routes connecting more Indian cities to additional destinations in China.

Elbers identified notable cities beyond Beijing and Shanghai, such as Chengdu, Kunming, Xiamen, and Hangzhou, as potential targets for expansion, indicating that thorough analysis of these markets reveals promising opportunities on the horizon.