India-China to resume direct air services by October end

India and China have agreed to resume direct air services between the two countries by late October, marking a step towards normalizing bilateral relations. This follows months of technical-level discussions between civil aviation as per Reuters authorities of both nations on a revised Air Services Agreement.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, India and China were connected by over 90 weekly flights across major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai. Approximately 1.5 million passengers traveled annually between the two countries, covering both business and tourism routes.

The long suspension of direct flights, initially triggered by the pandemic, had a significant economic and diplomatic impact . Tourism, trade delegations, and business travel faced severe disruptions, slowing people-to-people exchanges and reducing revenue for airlines on both sides. Analysts also point out that tensions between the two countries after the Galwan clash in 2020 further contributed to the prolonged absence of direct flights.

Under the new agreement, designated carriers from India and China can decide on commercial operations, with flights expected to run in accordance with the upcoming winter schedule and all operational requirements. Authorities say the resumption will help strengthen trade, tourism, and cultural ties, facilitating smoother bilateral engagement after years of disruption.