Resumption of Delhi-Guangzhou Flights by China Southern Airlines After a 6-Year Hiatus
In a significant development for Asia-Pacific aviation, China Southern Airlines has resumed its daily nonstop service between New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. This move, effective from September 21, 2026, ends a suspension that has been in place since February 2020.
China Southern now joins the ranks of Air China and China Eastern Airlines as the third major Chinese carrier to restore flights to India. Air China restarted its Beijing–Delhi route in April 2026, while China Eastern Airlines had earlier resumed its Shanghai–Delhi route.
The reinstated route operates as flight CZ359, departing Guangzhou at 3:35 PM and arriving in New Delhi at 7:00 PM. The return flight, CZ360, departs Delhi between 8:00–8:20 PM. These services are facilitated using Boeing 737-8/MAX 8 aircraft.
The revival of this route carries significant diplomatic implications, as it comes just before an anticipated meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
According to travel experts, the restored route benefits not only tourists and business travellers but also provides smooth onward connections through Guangzhou to Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond. With the Canton Fair scheduled for October, this corridor is expected to witness high demand, especially from India’s trade community.