China Southern reinstates Guangzhou-New Delhi flights ahead of Xi's BRICS visit
China Southern Airlines will restart regular passenger service between Guangzhou and New Delhi on September 21, ending a six-year suspension.
China Southern Airlines confirmed that it will begin operating the Guangzhou-New Delhi route again from September 21, after a six-year hiatus. This addition raises the airline’s South Asian network to more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes. The service had been halted during the pandemic and amid diplomatic strains following the Doklam and Galwan standoffs, but recent improvements in air links saw Air China resume Beijing-Delhi flights and China Eastern restart Kunming-Kolkata routes.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has cleared the reinstatement. The timing aligns with President Xi Jinping’s visit to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS summit, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders.
Why it matters
Resuming the route signals easing China-India tensions and supports increased trade and diplomatic engagement ahead of the BRICS summit.
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