India China Flights Resume: Direct Routes Return
- Direct flights between India and China will resume later this month, marking the end of a more than five-year suspension and signaling a potential thaw in bilateral relations....
- The cessation of direct flights began in 2020, despite China being india's largest bilateral trade partner.
- India's foreign ministry announced the move on Thursday, October 26, 2023, and IndiGo, India's largest carrier, subsequently stated it would launch daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou...
Direct Flights Between India and China to Resume After Five-Year Halt
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- Updated october 27, 2023 at 00:55:40 (anchored to 2023/10/27 for timeliness, designed as an evergreen resource)
Easing of Bilateral Tensions
Direct flights between India and China will resume later this month, marking the end of a more than five-year suspension and signaling a potential thaw in bilateral relations. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China confirmed the resumption on Friday, October 27, 2023.
The cessation of direct flights began in 2020, despite China being india’s largest bilateral trade partner. This resumption follows a recent visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China.
Flight Details and Airline Announcements
India’s foreign ministry announced the move on Thursday, October 26, 2023, and IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, subsequently stated it would launch daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting October 26, 2023.This was the first official comment on the resumption from Chinese authorities, as noted by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in a statement released Friday night.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport indicated plans to actively encourage airlines to establish additional direct routes, specifically mentioning potential connections between Guangzhou and Delhi.
Recent Diplomatic Engagement
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China last month for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Institution regional security bloc was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in seven years.During the meeting, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to view India and China as progress partners rather than rivals, and discussed strengthening trade ties amidst global tariff uncertainties.
Modi also raised India’s concerns regarding its substantial trade deficit with China, which currently stands at approximately $99.2 billion. He further emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the disputed border, where a 2020 clash led to a five-year military standoff.