INDIA -CHINA-After a long gap of nearly five years, direct passenger flights between India and China are set to resume, with services expected to start as early as next month.

The suspension, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, had severely impacted travel, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Sources indicate that a formal announcement about the resumption is likely to be made during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China at the end of August.

Officials from both nations have been holding discussions to finalize routes, schedules, and operational details. The move is being viewed as a positive step in improving bilateral relations, potentially boosting tourism, business travel, and people-to-people connections.

Aviation experts believe the revival of direct flights will also make trade logistics smoother, strengthen diplomatic engagement, and open up new opportunities for cooperation in various sectors.