India, China Resume Direct Flights After 5-Year Hiatus

India and China have resumed direct flights between the two countries after a five-year suspension, marking a significant step for trade and symbolizing cautious rebuilding of relations between Asia’s two most populous nations.

The restoration of direct air travel comes amid gradual improvements in bilateral ties following a deadly border clash in 2020. The Indian government highlighted that the resumption will enhance people-to-people connections and support the gradual normalization of bilateral engagement.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, operated the first daily flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou on Sunday. Additional services from New Delhi to Shanghai and Guangzhou are scheduled to begin in November. Currently, regular flights between India and Hong Kong remain in operation.

The move is expected to reduce logistics challenges and transit times, benefiting businesses and trade. Kolkata has historic commercial links with China dating back to the British colonial era, when Chinese migrants arrived as traders.

India continues to run a significant trade deficit with China, relying heavily on Chinese raw materials for industrial growth and exports. Recent trade figures show Indian imports from China exceeded $11 billion last month, a 16% increase year-on-year, while exports to China rose to $1.47 billion, up about 34% from the previous year.

Direct flights were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and strained further after the 2020 border clashes that left 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers dead. India responded by tightening restrictions on Chinese investments and banning hundreds of Chinese apps, including TikTok.

In recent years, India strengthened ties with the U.S.-led Quad alliance, which also includes Japan and Australia, aiming to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite ongoing territorial tensions along their 3,500-kilometer border, both countries exchanged gifts and sweets this month during the Hindu festival of Diwali in a gesture of goodwill.