New Delhi, India – Neighbours India and China have agreed in principle to resume direct passenger flights between the two countries, marking a significant step in improving bilateral relations after nearly five years without a direct air connection.

Passenger flights were initially suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained halted due to strained diplomatic ties between Beijing and New Delhi.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Monday that both nations had reached an understanding to restore air services. “The relevant technical authorities on both sides will meet and negotiate an updated framework for this purpose at an early date,” the ministry stated.

Diplomatic thaw between Beijing and New Delhi

Before the pandemic, around 500 direct flights operated monthly between India and China, according to local Indian media outlets. However, tensions escalated following a deadly military clash in 2020 at a disputed Himalayan border, leading India to cut passenger flights to mainland China, ban several Chinese apps, and restrict Chinese investments.

Although flights between India and Hong Kong resumed as pandemic restrictions eased, direct air links to mainland China remained suspended—until now.

Recent high-level diplomatic engagements have facilitated the normalisation of ties, with both nations seeking closer cooperation as founding members of the BRICS bloc.

China’s Foreign Ministry did not explicitly mention the agreement on flight resumptions but affirmed ongoing efforts to mend relations. “The improvement and development of China-India relations is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries,” it stated.

The resumption of direct flights is expected to enhance trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, strengthening the economic and diplomatic relationship between the two Asian giants.