After a gap of more than four years, direct commercial flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou in mainland China have resumed, marking a key step in restoring air connectivity between the two nations.

An A320 neo aircraft operated by IndiGo took off from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 10 pm on Sunday, carrying 176 passengers, an airport official said.

Direct air services on this route were last operational in early 2020 but were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later remained halted amid border tensions in eastern Ladakh.

The resumption of the Kolkata–Guangzhou flight is expected to boost trade, tourism, and academic exchanges between eastern India and southern China, officials added.