India and China have started the process to resume direct flight operations by agreeing to first “streamline procedures” for airline operations, multiple sources told businessline.
There has been no direct air connectivity between India and China since early 2020 following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The situation deteriorated after military clashes erupted between the two neighbours in the Galwan Valley of the Ladakh region.
Prior to Covid, airlines from both the sides operated flights to many destinations such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Flight services have resumed between India and Hong Kong sans mainland China.
But there has been cooling of tensions of late and the Chinese side has met with officials from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“Multiple stakeholders are involved in the overall talks that include issues such as visas,” sources said.
Streamlining of processes such as slot allocation, renewal of ground handling contracts, and other procedures has started.
“After the process is completed, it will be up to airlines to ready their ground operations at the destination airport by deploying adequate manpower and securing regulatory approvals,” sources said.
Besides, the streamlining process will not change the contours of the existing bilateral air rights agreement.
The domestic airline industry is optimistic about resuming flight services between the two countries.
Speaking to businessline, a senior airline executive said flights to China used to experience healthy load factors, sometimes up to 90 per cent.
Industry veteran Mark D Martin of Martin Consulting said the resumption of flight services will have an “extremely positive” impact on India-based airlines. “We will see for the first time the entry of Chinese low-cost airlines into India operating to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai,” Martin said.
“Air cargo through increased trade between India and China will see the requirement of additional freighters being deployed.”
According to a senior airline executive, India and China, being the largest and the two most populous countries in the world, do provide a “great opportunity” for people-to-people connections to boost trade, tourism, and business ties despite political differences.
“Prior to Covid, significant passenger and cargo operations were going on. If flights are resumed, it will benefit both countries in every aspect. Therefore, it is important to resume operations for increased cooperation and benefits,” the executive said.
Published on April 7, 2025
India and China have started the process to resume direct flight operations by agreeing to first “streamline procedures” for airline operations, multiple sources told businessline.
There has been no direct air connectivity between India and China since early 2020 following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The situation deteriorated after military clashes erupted between the two neighbours in the Galwan Valley of the Ladakh region.
Prior to Covid, airlines from both the sides operated flights to many destinations such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Flight services have resumed between India and Hong Kong sans mainland China.
But there has been cooling of tensions of late and the Chinese side has met with officials from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“Multiple stakeholders are involved in the overall talks that include issues such as visas,” sources said.
Streamlining of processes such as slot allocation, renewal of ground handling contracts, and other procedures has started.
“After the process is completed, it will be up to airlines to ready their ground operations at the destination airport by deploying adequate manpower and securing regulatory approvals,” sources said.
Besides, the streamlining process will not change the contours of the existing bilateral air rights agreement.
The domestic airline industry is optimistic about resuming flight services between the two countries.
Speaking to businessline, a senior airline executive said flights to China used to experience healthy load factors, sometimes up to 90 per cent.
Industry veteran Mark D Martin of Martin Consulting said the resumption of flight services will have an “extremely positive” impact on India-based airlines. “We will see for the first time the entry of Chinese low-cost airlines into India operating to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai,” Martin said.
“Air cargo through increased trade between India and China will see the requirement of additional freighters being deployed.”
According to a senior airline executive, India and China, being the largest and the two most populous countries in the world, do provide a “great opportunity” for people-to-people connections to boost trade, tourism, and business ties despite political differences.
“Prior to Covid, significant passenger and cargo operations were going on. If flights are resumed, it will benefit both countries in every aspect. Therefore, it is important to resume operations for increased cooperation and benefits,” the executive said.
Published on April 7, 2025
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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution
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