After Galwan, now flying in the sky, preparations for resumption of India-China direct flight

International News: Direct flights between India and China were stopped in early 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic and military clashes in the Galwan Valley. Since then, travel between the two countries was possible only via third countries such as Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai or Hong Kong. During this long period, not only trade relations were affected, but tourism and mutual meetings also declined significantly. Now lifting this ban is being considered an important step for both countries.

Government's order to airlines

The government has instructed the country's major airlines, including Air India and Indigo, to be ready to start direct flights to China at a short notice. This announcement can be made during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit to be held at the end of August. The purpose is to facilitate trade, tourism and people-to-people movement between the two countries.

A message of softness in relationships

The resumption of direct flights is being seen as a message of thaw and trust building in India-China relations. Tensions between the two escalated after the Galwan clash, and India took several tough measures, including a ban on 59 Chinese mobile apps. But in recent months, there has been progress on issues such as the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and sharing of hydrological data.

Old days of flying

In 2019, flights between India and China were operating at almost full capacity. At that time, Chinese airlines such as China Southern and China Eastern had gained a large market share. Among Indian airlines, Air India and IndiGo were also active on this route. IndiGo had started services like Delhi-Chengdu and Kolkata-Guangzhou, which were very popular among passengers.

Challenges still remain

According to industry sources, some important issues will have to be resolved before flights can be resumed. These include issues such as regulation of air fares, slot allocation and ground handling contracts. India wants its airlines to have complete freedom to set fares based on demand, while talks are also going on about China's low-cost airlines entering the Indian market.

Promoting trade and tourism

Experts believe that this decision will not only boost trade but will also give a new impetus to tourism. Businessmen, students and tourists of both the countries will be able to travel directly without the hassle of a third country. This will save both time and money and will also strengthen the atmosphere of trust.

A new flight in the relations between countries

While there was bitterness in India-China relations earlier, now this step is being seen as an attempt to increase trust from both sides. However, it is clear that just starting flights is not enough, but constant dialogue and honesty will also be necessary for permanent improvement in relations.