New delhi – Direct flights betweenโ India and China will resume later this month, marking a significant thaw in travel โคrelationsโ after nearly โfive years of pandemic-related restrictions and geopolitical tensions. The firstโ flights are expected to operate starting December 11, 2023, according โto announcements from both countries’ civil aviation authorities.
The resumption of air โฃconnectivityโค is poised to benefit business travelers, students,โ and families separated by the prolonged suspension, while also perhaps boosting tourism and trade between the two โคAsian giants.Prior toโฃ the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 14,000 passengers traveled weekly between India and China.โ The re-establishmentโ of these routes comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize bilateral relations, which have beenโฃ strained since the 2020 border clashes in the Galwan Valley.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed the restart, stating that Chinese airlines have been notified to prepare โfor resuming flights. India’s Ministry of Civil โฃAviationโข echoed the announcement, adding that further details regarding flight schedules and ticketโ availability will be released shortly. Currently, only a limited number of flights โขoperated by Air India are permitted to fly to china, and these are expected to increase as the situation normalizes.
The suspension began in January 2020 โฃwith the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, initiallyโฃ as a โprecautionary measureโฃ to curb the spread of โthe virus. Despite China easing its travel restrictions earlier this year, a full resumption of flights with โIndia โwas โขdelayed due toโ lingering concerns and โคdiplomatic complexities. The move follows recent high-level talks between Indian and Chinese officials aimed at resolving outstanding issues and fostering greater cooperation.