October 27: India’s IndiGo Airlines resumed direct flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou, China, on Sunday night — marking the first direct flight between India and mainland China since 2020.
According to Indian news agencies, the Kolkata–Guangzhou IndiGo flight carried 176 passengers. India also plans to reopen direct routes between New Delhi and Shanghai or Guangzhou in the coming months.
Peter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo Airlines, said the resumption of direct flights will greatly facilitate the movement of people and goods between the two nations. He added that it will strengthen connectivity between the world’s two most populous and rapidly growing economies.
Direct flights between India and China were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Anupama-Alim-Chai, China Media Group.