India, China Resume Direct Flights After 5-Year COVID-19, Border Tensions
India and China have agreed to resume direct passenger flights after a suspension of over five years. The move is seen as a significant step towards normalising relations between the two countries, following years of diplomatic and security tensions.
The suspension of direct flights began in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was prolonged due to border clashes and tensions between India and China. Notably, the deadly violence in the Galwan Valley in 2020 led to a deterioration in diplomatic relations, extending the disruption of flights.
The resumption of direct flights is expected to offer numerous benefits. It will provide shorter travel times, lower fares, and more route options for travellers. For airlines, it presents an opportunity to reclaim lost market share. India's largest airline, IndiGo, will launch direct routes between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting October 26, with plans to resume connections between New Delhi and Guangzhou, and eventually Delhi-Shanghai. However, the resumption is conditional on carriers' decisions and regulatory clearances, and may not happen immediately for all designated routes.
The reopening of direct flights is also expected to facilitate easier business travel, cultural exchange, tourism, and smooth logistical bottlenecks for trade and diplomacy. However, trust is fragile, and any flare-ups along the border or renewed tensions could derail the progress made in resuming direct flights.
The resumption of direct flights between India and China, after a five-year suspension, is a symbolic step towards normalisation. It offers practical benefits for travellers and airlines, and could facilitate smoother relations between the two countries. However, the process is subject to carriers' decisions and regulatory clearances, and the fragile nature of trust between the two nations means progress could be reversed.
