China Southern Airlines will resume regular passenger service between Guangzhou and New Delhi from September 21, returning to the Indian market after a six-year absence.
According to a post by China’s state-run Global Times on X, China Southern Airlines will restart the Guangzhou-New Delhi route on Saturday.
China Southern Airlines is expected to increase air connectivity between China and India and offer passengers another way to travel between the two nations.
The Guangzhou-New Delhi service will be part of China Southern Airlines’ expanding network across South Asia. The airline said it will operate more than 100 weekly flights over eight round-trip routes in the region after the restart.
The return of the New Delhi route comes after a long-term break in China Southern’s India operations. The six-year gap had left passengers with fewer direct air travel options between the two countries.
So the resumption could be more convenient for travellers, businesses and other passengers looking to connect India and China.
Guangzhou, a key aviation and business centre in south China, is also the base of China Southern Airlines. New Delhi is one of India’s most important international aviation gateway cities.
China's Global Times tweets, "China Southern Airlines announced on Saturday that it will resume regular passenger services on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route starting September 21, marking the relaunch of China Southern's India service after a six-year suspension. Following the… pic.twitter.com/6H69kj3S32
— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2026
The reunification of the two cities would help connect passenger flows in and out of the two major Asian markets better.
The expansion is also an indication of the larger expansion of China Southern’s service in South Asia. With more than 100 weekly flights planned on eight round-trip routes, the airline is positioning the region as a key part of its international network.
The Guangzhou-New Delhi route could be of particular value to those travelling to other destinations through Guangzhou. A large domestic and international network at the airport can be used for a lot of destinations in China and beyond.
For India-China travel, the return of the service would also provide students, professionals, tourists and business travellers with more choices.
But the actual impact will depend on flight schedules, fares, passenger demand and other travel requirements.
At the same time, international aviation networks are rapidly evolving and airlines are modifying their routes to suit demand and market conditions.
China Southern’s decision to restart its India service after six years is a great step forward in direct air connectivity by connecting the two countries.
The Guangzhou-New Delhi route is due to resume on September 21. With China Southern also expanding its South Asian network, the restart could mark a new phase in the airline’s India operations and provide passengers with an additional link between India and China.
