China-India Direct Flights Resume After Five-Year Suspension

Beijing, Oct 9 (PTI) China on Thursday announced the resumption of direct flights with India after a five-year hiatus, marking a positive step in reinforcing bilateral ties. This development aligns with the commitments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to boost relations between the two nations.

During the first media briefing following the Chinese Foreign Ministry's schedule resumption post-national holidays, spokesperson Guo Jiakun conveyed that flights are set to resume by the end of October. India had previously declared on October 2 that direct flights will recommence from October 26.

Guo emphasized that this initiative reflects the "faithful implementation" of the agreements reached between President Xi and Prime Minister Modi in Tianjin on August 31. It promotes friendly exchanges between the populace of these two countries, which collectively number over 2.8 billion.

The leaders, during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, acknowledged the positive momentum in bilateral relations since their last discussion in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024.

"China is prepared to collaborate with India to view and manage our relationship strategically and with long-term focus," Guo mentioned.

Chinese airlines like Air China, which previously offered flight services between the countries, have yet to announce official plans for resumption. However, Indian airline IndiGo and China Eastern are slated to be the initial carriers resuming direct flights. IndiGo plans to operate daily flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26. The airline also aims to introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou pending regulatory approval.

Flight services were initially suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and weren’t restored amid the prolonged border tensions in eastern Ladakh, which concluded last October.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that India and China would restart direct air services by the end of October following extensive technical engagements at the civil aviation level, aiding broader efforts to normalize bilateral relations.

The return of direct flights is anticipated to significantly enhance connectivity, support people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen economic collaboration.

During their Tianjin meeting on August 31, Prime Minister Modi cited that resuming direct flights was under consideration, underscoring the efforts to mend diplomatic relations that have deteriorated since the 1962 war and plummeted after the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020.

Following comprehensive diplomatic and military dialogues, both nations have withdrawn troops from various friction points in eastern Ladakh and negotiated a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok.

These developments came after Modi and Xi’s fruitful talks in Kazan, which resulted in multiple decisions aimed at mending ties, evident in the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in recent months.

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