There have been no direct air flights between neighbors China and India, the two most populous nations in the world, since their border conflict in 2020. Thus, the announcement on Oct. 2 by India’s Ministry of External Affairs that direct air services between the two countries is to resume in late October is very good news. The necessary technical details and agreements between their civil aviation authorities are in the final stages of being wrapped up, so that flights can begin for the winter season schedule.
“The agreement of the civil aviation authorities will further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalization of bilateral exchanges,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs wrote..
China’s Global Times daily welcomed the news, citing Himadrish Suwan, the chairman of the Confederation of Young Leaders of India, that “at a time when the global community faces unprecedented challenges, building bridges of trust and connectivity between India and China will contribute to regional stability and shared prosperity.”
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, immediately announced that it is “delighted” that its daily flights between Delhi and Kolkata in India to Guangzhou in China will resume on Oct. 26, as the first step toward adding other routes to China, the New Indian Express reported. Air India sources told the daily that their Delhi-Shanghai flights will begin by the end of the year.
