India and China to resume direct flights after nearly 5 years

India and China will restart direct passenger flights, suspended since 2020 due to Covid and a deadly Himalayan border clash. The agreement, finalized during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s January 2025 Beijing visit, aims for flights to resume by September, pending technical negotiations.

The move follows strained ties after a 2020 skirmish killed 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops. India’s recent approval of Chinese tourist visas signals warming relations. Modi may meet Xi at the SCO summit in Tianjin on August 31, potentially formalizing the announcement.

Before 2020, Air India, IndiGo, and Chinese carriers like Air China operated routes between major cities. Airlines are now preparing for rapid resumption, though talks could falter. “The exact timing remains fluid,” sources said, requesting anonymity due to ongoing discussions.

This development coincides with India’s strained U.S. relations after Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods over Russian oil purchases. Direct flights, previously routed through Hong Kong or Singapore, mark a step toward resetting ties between the world’s most populous nations.