India and China will resume direct flights after more than five years as two of the world’s biggest economies seek to rebuild political ties at a time of rising global trade uncertainties.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement Thursday that air service with China can start by later this month “subject to commercial decision of the designated carriers from the two countries” and fulfillment of other operational criteria.
The move follows bilateral discussions earlier this year geared toward the reestablishment of air travel. Bloomberg News reported in August citing people familiar with the matter that direct flights were expected to resume soon.
Passenger flights between India and China were suspended after the COVID-19 pandemic. The connection never resumed after diplomatic relations between the two countries hit a low point in 2020 following border clashes. Travelers between the two neighboring countries currently transit through hubs like Hong Kong or Singapore.
Diplomatic ties between the longstanding rivals are on an upswing at a time when U.S. tariffs have added to economic uncertainties in the world’s two most populous nations. In August, China and India agreed to facilitate bilateral trade and investments following talks between their foreign ministers in New Delhi.
