India-China Sky Bridge Rebuilt, 11 Points

Delhi / Beijing

✈️ “Sky Bridge Rebuilt: India–China Direct Flights Take Off After 5 Years”

1. PM Modi Confirms Direct Flights – At the SCO Summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the restart of direct flights between India and China, marking a turning point in bilateral relations.

2. Peaceful Atmosphere After Border Disengagement – Modi emphasized that an “atmosphere of peace and stability” has been restored following the border disengagement, enabling smoother diplomacy and cooperation.

3. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Resumes – Alongside direct flights, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has also restarted, reinforcing cultural and spiritual connectivity between the two nations.

4. Significance of Flight Resumption – Direct flights were suspended for nearly five years, first due to the Covid-19 pandemic (2020) and later because of Galwan Valley clashes (2020). Their resumption is seen as a symbol of thawing India-China relations.

5. India Resumes Tourist Visas for Chinese Citizens – India’s embassy in Beijing has restarted issuing tourist visas after five years, a critical move to boost tourism and people-to-people exchange.

6. Technical Hurdles Cleared – A high-level Indian delegation visited China to finalize airport slots, ground handling contracts and airfare regulations, with services capped at pre-2019 levels.

7. Key Flight Routes to Be Restored – Before suspension, airlines from both countries operated between New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Currently, flights only connect India and Hong Kong, not mainland China.

8. Strong Travel Demand – Aviation industry experts highlight that flights to China historically had 90% occupancy rates, suggesting robust pent-up demand for both tourism and business travel.

9. Boost for Trade & Tourism – Direct flights are expected to unlock opportunities in air cargo, tourism, trade, and investment, helping retain revenue that was earlier lost to third-country carriers.

10. Passenger Traffic Forecast – Current India–China traffic (with stopovers) is around 1 million annually. With direct connectivity, industry analysts forecast up to 3 million passengers, comprising tourists, students, and business travellers.

11. Industry Voices on Economic Impact –

• Mark Matin (Martin Consulting): Direct flights signal greater economic cooperation and expansion of people-to-people contact.

• Mike Zhou (Wernosa Aviation): Resumption will unlock massive growth in airline passenger travel, cargo, and bilateral trade.