Direct flights between India and China have resumed, marking a potential thaw in relations between the two nations. On Monday, IndiGo flight 6E 1703 arrived in Guangzhou from Kolkata, carrying approximately 180 passengers. These flights had been suspended since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 and did not resume following a violent clash in a disputed Himalayan border area that heightened tensions.
Over the past year, India and China have taken steps to rebuild their relationship, including a landmark agreement regarding border patrols. The Indian government has indicated that the resumption of direct flights will support increased contact between people and help normalize bilateral exchanges.
In August, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years, meeting with President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Earlier that month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India to discuss issues related to de-escalation and boundary affairs. Additionally, India restarted visa issuance for Chinese tourists in July.
According to travel data provider OAG, around 2,588 scheduled flights operated between India and China in 2019 before services were halted. At Kolkata Airport, airline staff celebrated the resumption of direct flights by lighting brass oil lamps as passengers checked in. A senior Chinese consular official noted that this was a significant day for India-China relations.
Travelers expressed relief about the reduced travel time to China. One passenger, Krishna Goyal, mentioned that direct flights would enhance business and trade. Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines plans to initiate a flight connecting Shanghai and Delhi starting November 9, operating three times a week.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rj9pe0e1wo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss