New Delhi, August 14
IndiGo is prepared to restart its flights from India to China as soon as the necessary bilateral agreements between the two countries are in place, the airline's chief executive Pieter Elbers said on Thursday.
"IndiGo operated daily flights between India and China prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline stands ready to resume these services as soon as bilateral arrangements between the two countries allow. Guided by its entrepreneurial spirit, IndiGo remains committed to identifying and pursuing commercially viable opportunities," Elbers said in a statement.
The carrier had run daily services between Delhi and Chengdu before the pandemic, alongside Bengaluru-Hong Kong flights, which were in operation until February 1, 2020. These routes, along with other connections to China, were halted in early 2020 when the Covid-19 outbreak triggered global travel restrictions. Air India also suspended its China operations during the same period.
While the pandemic caused the immediate suspension of flights, tensions between New Delhi and Beijing added another layer of difficulty. Diplomatic and economic ties deteriorated sharply after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 between Indian and Chinese armed forces. The confrontation marked one of the most serious border incidents in decades, leading to strained relations for nearly four years.
It was only in October 2024 that both sides reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control, a step seen as easing some of the long-standing tensions. However, despite the diplomatic thaw, direct commercial flights between India and China were not resumed.
For IndiGo, resuming China services would mark a return to a significant market it had to leave abruptly five years ago. The airline, which has rapidly expanded its international network in recent years, is signalling readiness.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I understand the commercial benefits, I'm not sure if we should be rushing into this given the border tensions. National security should come before business interests.
Good move by IndiGo! More competition will bring down ticket prices. Currently Air India has monopoly on this route charging ridiculous fares. #TravelForAll
As an expat living in Delhi, this is great news! The current travel options via Hong Kong or Bangkok are so time-consuming. Hope they resume the Bengaluru route too.
The govt should ensure strict reciprocity - if we allow Chinese airlines to operate here, they must give equal access to our carriers. No more one-sided deals please!
My husband works in Chengdu and we've been separated for months because of limited flights. This news gives me hope for family reunions soon â¤ï¸
While resuming flights is good for trade, I hope IndiGo maintains its excellent safety standards. Chinese airspace has some unique challenges that need careful handling.
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