India and China Resume Direct Flights After Five Years

India and China are set to resume direct flights this month, marking a significant step towards normalizing relations between the two countries. This development comes after a five-year hiatus in direct air travel.

IndiGo, India's largest budget airline, has announced that it will restart direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou from October 26. This move is expected to facilitate easier travel and promote people-to-people contact between the two nations.

The suspension of direct flights in 2020 was a result of heightened tensions following deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops along their shared Himalayan border. However, over the past year, both countries have been working towards rebuilding ties and de-escalating border tensions.

This resumption of flights is part of a broader effort to improve bilateral relations. Recent developments include allowing Indian pilgrims to visit religious sites in Tibet and India restarting visa services for Chinese tourists. These steps, along with high-level talks between officials, indicate a gradual thawing of relations between the two Asian giants.