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Key Points

IndiGo is bringing back direct flights between India and China after more than five years. The airline will start daily services from Kolkata to Guangzhou beginning October 26. This restart comes shortly after Prime Minister Modi's visit to China for the SCO summit. The renewed air connectivity aims to boost tourism and strengthen business ties between the two nations.

Key Points: IndiGo Resumes India China Flights After Five Year Halt

  • Daily Kolkata-Guangzhou flights starting October 26 using Airbus A320neo aircraft
  • Delhi-Guangzhou route planned pending regulatory approvals
  • Move follows PM Modi's China visit and SCO summit discussions
  • Services aim to boost tourism and cross-border trade partnerships
  • No direct flights existed since 2020 despite China being top trade partner
  • Resumption signals cautious easing of tensions between neighbors
2 min read

IndiGo to resume flights between India and China after five years

IndiGo restarts direct flights between India and China after 5-year gap, launching Kolkata-Guangzhou route to boost trade and tourism ties.

IndiGo to resume flights between India and China after five years
"The past experience and familiarity with local partners will help us resume these flights smoothly - IndiGo statement"

New Delhi, Oct 2

Low-cost carrier IndiGo on Thursday announced the resumption of its flight services to China, marking the return of direct air connectivity between the two countries after more than five years.

The airline will launch daily non-stop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26, using its Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Subject to regulatory approvals, IndiGo also plans to start direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou in the coming months.

The airline said that the restart of services will not only boost tourism but also re-establish avenues for cross-border trade and business partnerships.

“IndiGo has earlier operated flights to China and already has several arrangements in place. The past experience and familiarity with local partners will help us resume these flights smoothly,” the airline said in a statement.

The announcement comes shortly after the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India and China would restart direct flights between designated cities this month.

There have been no direct passenger flights between the two countries since 2020, even though China remains India’s biggest bilateral trade partner.

The move also follows recent diplomatic engagements between the two neighbours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last month for the first time in seven years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

During the visit, PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed strengthening trade ties and agreed that India and China should act as development partners, not rivals.

While the leaders underlined the importance of peace and stability along the disputed border, PM Modi also raised India’s concerns over the widening trade deficit with China, which currently stands at nearly $99.2 billion.

Aviation and trade experts believe the resumption of flights will help businesses on both sides by improving connectivity and will also support cultural and tourism exchanges, signalling a cautious easing of tensions between New Delhi and Beijing.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While better connectivity is welcome, I hope this doesn't mean we're ignoring the huge trade deficit of nearly $100 billion. Our government should ensure this benefits Indian businesses equally, not just Chinese imports flooding our markets.
A
Aditya G
Excellent move by IndiGo! This will really help small businesses who need to travel to China for sourcing materials. The daily flights from Kolkata make so much sense given the large Bengali community with business ties in Guangzhou.
S
Sarah B
As someone who frequently travels between India and China for work, this is a huge relief. The layovers in other countries added unnecessary hours to my journey. Hope they maintain good service standards and competitive pricing.
V
Vikram M
Good step forward for diplomacy, but let's not forget the border issues. While trade and travel are important, national security should remain our top priority. Hope this comes with proper safeguards.
K
Kavya N
Finally! This will boost tourism significantly. Many Indian tourists want to visit China but were put off by the complicated transit routes. Looking forward to affordable packages for Chinese destinations. 😊

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