After nearly five years of suspension, direct flights between China and India are on the verge of resuming, offering a tangible signal of thawing bilateral ties and sparking cautious optimism among citizens, entrepreneurs, and cultural ambassadors in both countries, according to reports by the Global Times.
For Chen Fengqiong, honorary president of the Chinese Women’s Association in India, news of restored flights represents more than convenience—it reflects the pulse of China-India relations. “The status of direct flights reflects the true trajectory of China-India ties,” Chen told the Global Times, highlighting the impact on entrepreneurs, students, and families maintaining cross-border connections.
The announcement follows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India on August 20, during which the two countries reached agreements on border management, trade facilitation, visa issuance, and “resuming direct flights between the Chinese mainland and India at the earliest possible moment,” according to the Global Times. The agreements also include updates to the air services framework between the nations.
Indian social media influencer and educator Ram Niranjan Sharma called the decision “long-awaited and overdue.” Speaking to the Global Times, Sharma recounted the struggles of students and travelers who, after flights were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, faced costly and exhausting multi-stop journeys. “It shouldn’t have been that hard,” he said, emphasizing how the lack of direct flights disrupted academic, business, and cultural exchanges.
Chen echoed the sentiment, describing how her India-based ventures had been hampered for years. “Half a decade of remotely managing operations, dealing with transit procedures, and navigating sudden policy changes has been taxing,” she told the Global Times.
The suspension of direct flights not only affected logistics but also cultural engagement. Gloria Yu, who runs a Shanghai-based art and publishing platform, noted in the Global Times that collaborations between Chinese and Indian creators fizzled out when travel became complicated.
The resumption of flights is seen as a step toward breaking long-standing prejudices and rebuilding people-to-people ties. Sharma emphasized that increased travel would foster cultural understanding: “Direct communication, flights, and travel bring two ancient civilizations closer together, not just geographically, but spiritually and culturally as well,” he told the Global Times.
The shift is already being felt in the travel industry. Liang Yaofeng, general manager of Beijing-based Merry Travel, reported a surge in inquiries about Indian visas and travel plans. “Demand has been pent up for years, and we fully expect it to explode once flights resume,” he told the Global Times.
Pilgrimage routes and cultural exchanges are also reopening. Sharma shared experiences from a recent visit to Mount Kangrinboqe in Xizang, celebrating the resumption of sacred journeys, while organizers in Chennai are planning cultural events with Chinese participants.
Highlighting the broader significance, Himadrish Suwan, Chairman of the Confederation of Young Leaders of India, told the Global Times that the revival of exchanges can strengthen understanding and cooperation. “India and China are two great ancient civilizations. The more we understand each other, the stronger our partnership can be,” he said.
For citizens like Chen and Sharma, the pending resumption of direct flights represents both hope and caution. But after years of pent-up demand, business, academic, and cultural communities on both sides are poised to reconnect, setting the stage for a renewed chapter in China-India relations.
