As India and China appear to make cautious strides toward a thaw in relations, there’s growing hope for the resumption of direct air connectivity between the two nations, which has been absent since early 2020. This lack of direct flights has led travelers to seek alternative routes, with neighboring countries like Singapore, Vietnam, and Bangladesh emerging as key connecting hubs for flyers between India and China.
The possibility of resuming direct flights, along with the normalisation of visa issuances—a key demand from China—could be on the table during the upcoming visit of India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, to Beijing, beginning today. Both Indian and Chinese airlines are expected to closely monitor any developments, as the resumption of flights would be a significant milestone in the restoration of bilateral ties.
In September 2024, a high-level discussion between India’s Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and Song Zhiyong, the Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, touched upon the topic of restoring direct passenger flights. These talks came after months of China pushing India to reopen air routes, while India has been more cautious about the move.
Since the suspension of direct flights, many travelers have been forced to transit through neighboring countries, with airports in Singapore, Vietnam, and Bangladesh seeing a rise in traffic as intermediary stopover points. This shift has not only benefitted these countries’ aviation sectors but has also raised questions about how soon India and China will agree on the terms for reopening direct air routes.
With diplomatic discussions underway, the aviation industry is closely watching for updates, as the resumption of direct flights would be a welcome relief for passengers and airlines alike, who have long awaited the return of smoother, more direct travel options.
