New Delhi, January 28, 2025: India and China have agreed to resume direct passenger flights between the two countries, nearly five years after services were halted. The suspension began with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and was prolonged by strained relations between Beijing and New Delhi.
India’s Foreign Ministry announced that an agreement had been reached “in principle” to restore air connectivity. “The relevant technical authorities on both sides will meet soon to negotiate an updated framework for this purpose,” the ministry stated.
Before the pandemic, approximately 500 direct flights operated monthly between the two nations, according to Indian media outlet Moneycontrol.
However, bilateral relations deteriorated in 2020 following a deadly military clash at a disputed Himalayan border, leading India to cut passenger flights to mainland China, ban several Chinese apps, and restrict Chinese investments. While flights between India and Hong Kong resumed as the pandemic subsided, direct services to mainland China remained suspended.
Recent diplomatic efforts, including high-level meetings between the two governments, have helped ease tensions. Both nations are founding members of the BRICS bloc and have sought to rebuild ties in recent months.
China’s Foreign Ministry, while not directly mentioning the flight resumption, highlighted ongoing efforts to improve relations. “The improvement and development of China-India relations is fully in line with the fundamental interests of both countries,” the ministry said in a statement.
This agreement marks a step forward in normalizing relations and fostering closer ties between the two Asian giants.
