India and China have decided to start direct passenger flights again later this month, ending a suspension that lasted for almost five years. Officials from both countries confirmed the decision and said that ticket bookings would begin on Friday.
Direct flights between the two most populated countries in the world were first stopped in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, international travel around the globe had almost completely shut down. However, even after most countries reopened, flights between India and China did not restart. This was because of serious tensions between the two neighbors, especially after a deadly border clash in the Himalayan region in 2020. The violent incident had led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers, creating the worst conflict between the two nations in many decades.
In recent months, relations between India and China have started to improve. Last month, the leaders of both countries met face-to-face for the first time in seven years, which was seen as a positive step toward rebuilding trust. Following that meeting, officials from both governments held technical discussions about flights. Finally, on Thursday, the Indian government announced that an agreement had been reached: direct flights will start again by the end of October.
The official statement said the decision would make travel easier for ordinary people, help families reconnect, and support more exchanges between the two countries. It added that restoring flights was an important step toward normalising ties between India and China.
Indian airline IndiGo, the largest commercial airline in the country, quickly confirmed that it would operate the first flights. Starting October 26, IndiGo will launch a direct daily service between Kolkata in India and Guangzhou in China. Later, it also plans to expand operations to include flights from New Delhi. IndiGo said the flights would not only help tourists but also open new opportunities for trade, business partnerships, and cultural connections between the two Asian giants.
Back in August, India and China had already agreed to work on improving their relationship. They announced plans to resume direct flights, increase trade, and continue discussions about their disputed border. In another sign of warming ties, China recently allowed Indian pilgrims to travel once again to Mount Kailash in Tibet. This sacred mountain is very important to Hindus and Buddhists, and visits had been stopped since the 2020 border clash.
Now, with flights starting again, experts believe that people-to-people contact will increase and businesses will find it easier to work across borders. Although big political and security challenges remain, this step is being viewed as a sign that both countries are ready to slowly rebuild their relationship after years of tension.
