Air connectivity restored: India-China direct flights to begin again after 5 years
Delhi/Beijing (The Uttam Hindu) – Direct flight services between India and China could resume by the end of October after a five-year hiatus, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. The civil aviation authorities of India and China have been discussing the resumption of direct air services between the two countries and a revised air services agreement since the beginning of this year. This is part of the Indian government's policy of gradually normalizing relations between the two countries. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, following these discussions, it has now been agreed that direct flight services connecting designated destinations between India and China could resume by the end of October 2025, in accordance with the winter season schedule, provided the designated airlines of both countries achieve commercial judgment and meet all operational criteria.
"This agreement between the civil aviation authorities will further promote people-to-people contact between India and China, helping to gradually normalise bilateral exchanges," the statement added. Direct flights were suspended after the Doklam standoff and further delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, during their meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the two countries' pragmatic approach of prioritizing dialogue, confidence-building measures, and regional engagement. The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and build on recent progress in India-China relations. The two countries agreed on patrolling rules along the 3,500-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), de-escalating a four-year-old border dispute.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders commended the agreement reached last year and the maintenance of peace along the border. They expressed their commitment to finding a just and equitable solution to the border issue through mutual agreement, taking into account the long-term interests of the people of both countries. The two leaders also agreed to support the important decisions taken during the Special Representatives' talks earlier this month.
In September, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India and held special representative talks on the border issue. In his meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, he stated that a stable India-China relationship is in the interests of both countries and is desired by developing countries. Previously, the long-postponed Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra was rescheduled for the summer of 2025.