New Delhi, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : China Southern Airlines is set to resume direct flights between New Delhi and Guangzhou starting September 21. This announcement comes just ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the 18th BRICS summit, held on September 12-13. The resumption of flights marks a significant development in restoring air connectivity between the two nations after a hiatus of nearly six years.
With this service, China Southern Airlines will expand its operations in South Asia, offering over 100 flights weekly across eight round-trip routes. Guangzhou, a major business and industrial hub in China, is crucial for enhancing trade links with India.
Earlier this year, Air India reinstated its New Delhi-China service in February. Additionally, China Eastern Airlines resumed its Kunming-Kolkata route in April, while Air China restarted its Beijing-Delhi service the same month. IndiGo also launched daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Shanghai on March 30, and had begun new daily flights from New Delhi to Guangzhou last November.
The decision to reinstate the Guangzhou-Delhi air service is viewed as a vital step toward improving direct connectivity between India and China. The COVID-19 pandemic had severely disrupted air travel between the two countries, leading to the suspension of this route.
Relations between India and China have experienced significant fluctuations in recent years, particularly following the violent clashes in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which caused serious tensions. However, after a military disengagement agreement in October 2024, signs of improvement in diplomatic relations have emerged, paving the way for the restoration of direct flights and enhancements in business visa processes and trade connections.
Leave a Comment