Direct air travel between India and China to resume, announces Prime Minister Modi at SCO Summit.

Direct Flights Between India and China Resume After Five-Year Hiatus

After a five-year suspension, direct flights between India and China have resumed, marking a significant step towards boosting trade, tourism, and business travel between the two countries.

The resumption of direct flights could potentially increase passenger traffic from around one million with a one-stopover to three million, according to aviation experts. The announcement was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China, where he participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The restart of flights between the two countries also signals a cautious thaw in bilateral ties, following tensions that worsened after military clashes in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh. Indian carriers now only operate services to Hong Kong.

Prime Minister Modi is expected to address the SCO summit and hold talks with Putin. The boundary issue between India and China is being addressed with a commitment to a fair and reasonable resolution.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a religious pilgrimage, has also resumed.

The resumption of direct flights comes after a series of discussions between Chinese authorities and India's Ministry of Civil Aviation to streamline procedures such as slot allocations, ground handling contracts, and airfare regulations. An arrangement is being put in place to avoid waiting for a revised air services agreement, with airport slots being allocated to airlines under the arrangement and services capped at pre-2019 levels.

Mike Zhou, Managing Director at aviation consulting firm Wernosa, noted that the direct flights between China and India would unlock the massive potential for growth in airline passenger travel, air cargo, tourism, and trade between the two countries. Aviation industry veteran Mark Matin of Martin Consulting stated that the announcement of direct flights between India and China is a sign of an understanding for greater economic cooperation and expansion of people-to-people contact.

Businessline reported that flight services between India and China are likely to resume by early October or shortly thereafter. However, the specific airlines that will operate direct flights between India and China after the resumption have not been named in the available information.

The resumption of direct flights between India and China presents a significant opportunity to boost trade, tourism, and business travel. With the boundary issue being addressed and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resuming, it seems that bilateral relations between the two countries are on the mend.