China and India to resume direct flights after five-year suspension

(Web Desk): India and China have decided to resume direct flights between the two countries after a gap of five years, with officials confirming that bookings have opened from today. The flights are set to restart by the end of October.

According to international news agency AFP, direct air service between India and China was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time tensions between the two countries also escalated along their shared border. However, with gradual improvement in relations, both sides have now agreed to re-establish air connectivity.

India's Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that the resumption of flights will promote people-to-people contact, tourism, and trade relations. The statement called this step a significant move toward normalizing bilateral ties.

Indian airline IndiGo has announced that it will commence daily direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou from October 26, with plans to extend the service to New Delhi in the future. According to the airline, these flights will help revive cross-border trade and business partnerships.

Relations between China and India deteriorated in 2020 after a clash along the disputed Himalayan border, in which 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers were killed. However, in recent years, both countries have made efforts to ease tensions through dialogue, trade cooperation, and religious tourism.