Direct air connectivity between India and China has resumed after more than five years, marking a significant step toward restoring bilateral exchanges between the neighbouring countries.
The first revived service took off from Kolkata on Sunday night and landed in Guangzhou after a journey of around three and a half hours. A total of 176 passengers travelled on the inaugural flight, reports agencies.
Flights between the two countries were halted in early 2020 following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and heightened tensions along their disputed Himalayan border. Since then, travellers had been forced to take multi-leg routes through third countries, resulting in longer travel times and higher expenses.
Officials in New Delhi said the resumption of direct services will strengthen people-to-people contact and support the gradual normalisation of engagement between the two Asian powers. The move also comes as both sides continue diplomatic and military talks aimed at reducing frictions along the Line of Actual Control.
More routes are set to reopen in the coming weeks, including services between Delhi and Guangzhou as well as Shanghai and Delhi. Aviation authorities believe the revival of direct connectivity will boost business travel, tourism and trade at a time when economic cooperation has regained urgency.
Passengers travelling on the maiden flight described the reopening of the route as a welcome relief after years of navigating long transit journeys for work and commercial activities.
