China Southern Airlines Resumes Guangzhou-Delhi Passenger Service

China Southern Airlines officially announced on September 12, 2026, that it will resume regular passenger services on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route starting September 21, 2026. This development marks the end of a six-year suspension of the service, which had been halted due to various operational and geopolitical factors. The resumption is part of a broader strategy by the carrier to strengthen its footprint in South Asia, where it now operates over 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes.

The return of this direct link is significant for the aviation landscape between China and India, as it restores a critical corridor for trade and tourism. By re-establishing this connection, China Southern Airlines is positioning itself to capture the growing demand for travel between these two major economic hubs. This move follows a period of diplomatic engagement between the two nations, which has facilitated a gradual normalization of transport links.

This route resumption primarily impacts business professionals, corporate travellers, and tourists who frequently commute between the Pearl River Delta region and the Indian capital. It also benefits transit passengers looking for efficient connections through Guangzhou’s hub to other destinations in East Asia and beyond.

Makutet expects this route to see high load factors initially due to pent-up demand for direct connectivity between these two major markets. We anticipate that if this route performs well, it may signal a broader trend of capacity expansion by Chinese carriers into the Indian market throughout the remainder of 2026.