NEW DELHI, Oct 2: — India and China will restart direct flight services on October 26 after a five-year hiatus, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced Wednesday, calling it part of ongoing efforts to normalise bilateral ties strained by a prolonged border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
The resumption of flights comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held discussions on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin.
Indian carrier IndiGo and China Eastern will be the first airlines to restore services. IndiGo said it will launch a daily Kolkata–Guangzhou flight from October 26 and, subject to regulatory approvals, will later add a Delhi–Guangzhou route. Flight operations were halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were not revived amid the nearly four-year military face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“Since earlier this year, as part of the government’s approach towards gradual normalisation of relations between India and China, the civil aviation authorities of the two countries have been engaged in technical-level discussions,” the MEA said in a statement. It noted that both sides agreed to resume direct air services in line with the winter-season schedule, subject to commercial decisions and operational clearances.
The ministry added: “This agreement of the civil aviation authorities will further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in a social media post, confirmed the move, noting that it followed “continuous technical-level engagement” between aviation regulators of both countries. “The move will greatly enhance air connectivity, support people-to-people exchanges and contribute to the strengthening of economic collaboration,” it said.
India-China relations plummeted to their lowest level since the 1962 war after the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020. Following multiple rounds of diplomatic and military talks, both sides withdrew troops from several friction points, with a disengagement pact for Depsang and Demchok finalised in October last year. Days later, Modi and Xi met in Kazan and agreed on a series of steps to improve ties.
In recent months, the two countries have taken additional measures to restore normalcy, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Modi told Xi in their August 31 meeting that direct flights would soon be resumed.
The restart of air services is being seen as one of the most visible signs of easing tensions, allowing greater travel, trade, and people-to-people contact after years of disruption.
