China Southern to Resume Guangzhou-New Delhi Flights from September 21

China Southern Airlines will resume regular passenger services on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route from September 21, the carrier announced on Saturday. The move marks the end of a six-year suspension of the route, which was halted after the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020.

The restart comes just as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit. Xi is scheduled to land in the capital on Saturday and proceed to the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam.

On the sidelines of the summit, Xi will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders are expected to take up a range of subjects, including border issues, trade and economic ties, travel and tourism coordination, and regional security.

With the relaunch, China Southern's operations across eight round-trip routes in South Asia will exceed 100 flights per week.

Several carriers have already restored India-China connectivity. IndiGo brought back its China routes in November 2025, and China Eastern Airlines resumed its India operations the same month. Air India restarted regular New Delhi-China services in February 2026, while Air China revived its Beijing-Delhi link in April 2026.

At present, Air India and IndiGo operate flights from India to China, while Air China and China Eastern Airlines serve the route from the Chinese side. China Southern's return will add weekly capacity on the Guangzhou-New Delhi sector.