Direct flights between India, China return as relations improve
(MENAFN) Direct air travel between India and China has resumed, reflecting a warming of relations between the two nations. On Monday, IndiGo flight 6E 1703 from Kolkata arrived in Guangzhou carrying approximately 180 passengers.
Air services were suspended in early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and remained halted following a deadly clash along the disputed Himalayan border, which intensified tensions. Over the past year, however, both countries have been steadily repairing ties, culminating in a landmark agreement on border patrol coordination.
The Indian government noted that restarting direct flights would "facilitate people-to-people contact" and support "the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges," signaling a broader trend toward reconciliation.
High-level diplomatic engagements have accompanied these developments. In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years, meeting President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Earlier that month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Delhi on issues including "de-escalation, delimitation and boundary affairs." Additionally, India resumed issuing tourist visas for Chinese visitors in July.
Before the pandemic, the two countries operated roughly 2,588 scheduled flights annually, according to travel analytics firm OAG. To mark the return of services, airline staff at Kolkata airport lit traditional brass oil lamps as passengers checked in.
A senior Chinese consular official described the occasion as "a very important day for the India-China relationship." Passengers expressed relief at the reduced travel time. Business traveler Krishna Goyal highlighted that direct flights would enhance trade and cooperation, noting, "Earlier, we had to change two or three flights [to reach China]. We used to go to Singapore from Kolkata and from there to China."
Looking ahead, China Eastern Airlines will launch a thrice-weekly service connecting Shanghai and Delhi starting 9 November, further expanding the renewed air link between the two countries.
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