India, China to resume direct flights after five-year gap, details inside

In a major step towards thawing strained ties, India and China are set to resume direct passenger flights after a hiatus of more than five years. The announcement came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

This marks PM Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, signaling a fresh effort to rebuild political and economic bridges between the two Asian giants.

A Push for Stronger Ties

Diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Beijing have seen a steady upswing amid rising trade uncertainties and global tensions. Earlier in August, both countries agreed to facilitate bilateral trade and investments, following high-level discussions in New Delhi.

During his meeting, PM Modi described the progress in ties as being “guided by respect for each other’s interests,” a sentiment echoed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his recent India visit.

Flights Ready for Takeoff

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has already expressed interest in restarting operations once approvals are finalized, while Air India is also expected to resume services. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Air India, IndiGo, and Chinese carriers like Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern operated several routes between major cities.

Since the suspension in 2020 following the border clashes, travelers between the two countries have been relying on transit hubs such as Hong Kong or Singapore.

A New Chapter in Connectivity

With the restoration of tourist visas for Chinese nationals in July and renewed diplomatic engagement, the resumption of direct flights could mark the beginning of a new chapter in India-China relations, fostering people-to-people ties and boosting trade and tourism.