India, China Direct Flights To Resume From October 26 After 5-Year Freeze
Direct air travel between India and China is set to resume from October 26, marking a significant step in the normalization of relations after a five-year freeze following border tensions. The announcement came shortly after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the two nations had reached an agreement to restart services. Budget airline IndiGo immediately followed up, announcing it will commence daily, non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou from the same date.
The MEA stated that civil aviation authorities from both countries had been engaged in technical discussions “as part of the Government’s approach towards gradual normalisation of relations.” This agreement will now allow designated carriers to resume direct flights in line with the winter schedule, subject to commercial and operational criteria. The move is expected to facilitate people-to-people contact and contribute to the restoration of normal bilateral exchanges.
Flights were initially suspended following the Doklam crisis and the freeze was prolonged by the COVID-19 pandemic and the deadly Galwan clashes.IndiGo confirmed it will operate its Airbus A320neo aircraft on the Kolkata-Guangzhou route and will also introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou shortly. The airline stated the move would re-establish avenues for cross-border trade, strategic business partnerships, and tourism between the two Asian giants.
The decision comes against a backdrop of slowly improving bilateral ties over the past year. Following the initial announcement of a potential resumption during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi last month, both sides have undertaken a series of confidence-building measures. This includes the crucial disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Depsang and Demchok, sustained high-level diplomatic dialogues, and an easing of some trade restrictions, signaling a mutual intent to stabilize the relationship.
