India and China are preparing to restart direct passenger flights as soon as next month, ending a four-year pause that began during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Bloomberg, Indian airlines have been asked to stay ready for sudden flight operations to China.
An official announcement is expected during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit at the end of August in Tianjin.
Suspension Due to the Pandemic
Direct flights between India and China stopped in 2020, forcing travelers to take longer routes through places like Hong Kong and Singapore.
Resuming direct flights will save time and benefit business travelers, students, and tourists from both countries.
Diplomatic Background
This decision comes amid complex political relations. India-China ties worsened after deadly border clashes in 2020, resulting in travel and trade restrictions.
Recently, India relaxed tourist visa rules for Chinese visitors, showing a cautious improvement. The flight restart also comes as India faces trade tensions with the US over tariffs and Russian oil.
Announcement Expected at SCO Summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the SCO summit starting August 31, where he may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The summit is expected to be the stage for officially confirming the flight restart.
Airlines Getting Ready
Before the pandemic, Indian airlines like Air India and IndiGo, and Chinese carriers such as Air China and China Southern, operated flights between the two countries.
The plan now is to resume these services, though final details on schedules and routes are still being worked out. Aviation officials and airlines have not commented publicly yet.
Past Restart Attempts and Challenges
Earlier efforts to restart flights in January and June this year did not succeed due to diplomatic issues.
Only recently have both countries shown more willingness to move ahead. However, challenges remain, and the timeline may still change.
If these plans go ahead, direct flights will not only make travel easier but also help rebuild economic ties and people-to-people connections between India and China.
