Direct Flights Resume Between India and China After 5 Years

Monica Liu, a long-time resident of Beijing, was among the first 176 passengers to board the revived Kolkata-Guangzhou flight, marking a new chapter in direct air connectivity between India and China. The flight, triggered by the Union government's decision to reopen tourist visas for Chinese nationals and subsequent diplomatic efforts, has brought relief to frequent travelers and businesses. The Airbus A320 Neo departed at 10 pm, bringing a sense of normalcy to travel between the two nations.

Key Takeaways:

• The Kolkata-Guangzhou flight, operated by IndiGo, resumed after a 5-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and diplomatic tensions between India and China.
• The flight is part of a larger effort to restore direct air connectivity between India and China, with over 40 weekly flights linking Indian metros to Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming previously.
• The Union government's decision to reopen tourist visas for Chinese nationals paved the way for flights to resume.
• The resumption of direct flights is expected to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and ideas between the two countries, strengthening bilateral ties.
• The direct flight between Kolkata and Guangzhou is expected to save time and money for travelers like Arjun Gupta, a New Town businessman, who previously had to take a detour via Delhi and Bangkok.
• The resumption of direct flights is seen as a significant step in introducing more flights to China.

Statistics:

• 176 passengers boarded the inaugural Kolkata-Guangzhou flight.
• Over 40 weekly flights previously linked Indian metros with Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming.
• The flight between Delhi and Guangzhou is scheduled to resume on November 10, with China Eastern Airlines' Shanghai-Delhi flight resuming a day earlier.
• The direct flight between Kolkata and Guangzhou takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Sources:

• [Times of India]
• [Government of India]
• [IndiGo Airlines]