India and China to Resume Direct Flights After Five Years

India and China will restart direct flights after a five-year hiatus to mend ties strained by border conflicts. IndiGo and China Eastern are set to launch services as government discussions come to fruition, enhancing connectivity and bilateral collaboration.

After a five-year hiatus, India and China are set to resume direct flight services by the end of this month, a move aimed at strengthening their relationship after significant strain from border conflicts in eastern Ladakh.

The decision follows discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, and subsequent technical talks by the civil aviation authorities of both nations.

IndiGo and China Eastern airlines will lead the renewed air connectivity, with plans for IndiGo to start daily flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou on October 26. This resumption is part of broader efforts to normalize ties, enabling people-to-people exchange and economic collaboration.

(With inputs from agencies.)