Flights to China to resume soon? Govt asks airlines to prepare routes; announcement likely at SCO meet, says report
NEW DELHI: India and China are moving closer to restoring direct passenger flights as early as next month, Bloomberg reported sources familiar with the negotiations as saying, in a sign the two nations are seeking to mend strained ties.However, Bloomberg stated that neither the aviation ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, nor the Press Information Bureau responded to its requests for comment.According to the report, the government has asked domestic airlines to be ready to operate flights to China at short notice. An official announcement could come around the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which begins August 31 in Tianjin and is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.Direct passenger services between the two countries have been suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing travelers to transit through hubs such as Hong Kong or Singapore. The renewed push comes as New Delhi’s relations with Washington face pressure, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on goods to 50% over its purchases of Russian oil, Bloomberg reported.Diplomatic relations between India and China hit a low in 2020 after deadly border clashes in Ladakh killed 20 soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops. India recently eased restrictions on tourist visas for Chinese nationals after years of curbs.Before the suspension, carriers including Air India, IndiGo, Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern operated routes between major cities. The sources cited by Bloomberg said both Air India and IndiGo are likely to restart services if flights resume.While both countries had announced plans to restore direct flights earlier this year, progress stalled amid renewed tensions. Talks have gathered momentum over the past two weeks, but Bloomberg’s sources cautioned that the timing could still shift if negotiations face setbacks.
