India, China to start direct flights this month while the links are heating up

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement Thursday that the air service with China can start this month “subject to the commercial decision of the designated carriers of the two countries” and to meet other operational criteria.

This decision follows bilateral discussions earlier this year for the restoration of plane trips. Bloomberg News reported in August, citing people familiar with the issue that direct flights should resume soon.

Passenger flights between India and China were suspended after the COVVI-19 pandemic. The link never resumed after diplomatic relations between the two countries reached a low point in 2020 after the border clashes. Travelers between the two neighboring countries are currently passing through hubs like Hong Kong or Singapore.

The diplomatic links between long -standing competitors are up at a time when American prices have added to economic uncertainties in the two most populous nations in the world. In August, China and India agreed to facilitate bilateral trade and investments following talks between their foreign ministers in New Delhi.

The largest carrier in India, Indigo, said that he would resume his flights to China from October 26 with a daily service connecting the city of Kolkata from eastern India to Guangzhou in southern China. The carrier said that he also planned to fly between New Delhi and Guangzhou “shortly”.

The chief executive officer of Indigo, Pieter Elbers, welcomed the thaw of aviation ties, saying that this would help the global growth plans of his airline. “With this very important step, we plan to introduce more direct flights to China,” he said in a statement.

Indigo shares increased up to 1.5% on Friday during negotiations in Mumbai before giving up some of the gains.

The other big local transporter from India, Air India, also works on a plan to launch flights to Shanghai from New Delhi on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane, according to people familiar with the discussions that have spoken subject to anonymity.

The deployment dates for India air flights were not finalized and could be after the launch of the indigo, they added.

‘Great respite’

Before the suspension, Air India and Indigo, as well as Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Southern and China Orient have exploited services between the big cities of the two countries.

“The resumption of thefts will lead to more contacts of people to the person,” said Ajay Prakash, managing director of Nomad Travels and former president of the India Federation of Travel Agents. “It will also be a great respite for medium -sized and small companies that make business with China.”

This must be followed with improved visa rules to guarantee the ease of travel and India should also consider attracting Chinese tourists, added Prakash.

Earlier this year, India began to allow tourist visas to Chinese nationals after years of borders. India and China first accepted in January to resume direct flights and once again in June, but progress has been slow.

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