India & China May Restart Direct Flights Next Month After 5-Year Pause
After nearly five years of suspended air travel, India and China could soon see the return of direct flights—possibly as early as next month—according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the talks.
Direct air connectivity between the two countries has been halted since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing travellers to route through hubs like Hong Kong or Singapore. Now, with both nations looking to mend political ties, the Indian government has reportedly asked domestic airlines to be ready for China routes on short notice. An official announcement could be made during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China at the end of August.
This development comes at a time when India’s relationship with the United States has taken a sharp downturn, with US President Donald Trump recently doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in response to India’s purchase of Russian oil. Air India, meanwhile, has suspended its Washington DC service citing “operational factors,” though flights to New York and San Francisco remain unaffected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the SCO summit in Tianjin from August 31, where he may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
India-China ties had been strained since deadly border clashes in 2020 that claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops. Talks to restart direct flights initially began in January this year but were delayed when tensions between India and Pakistan interrupted progress. Now, with Air India and IndiGo reportedly in the mix, a revival of the route appears to be back on the table.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
