After a gap of over five years, direct flights between India and mainland China are set to begin by the end of this month.

The Ministry of External Affairs announced an agreement between the two countries on Thursday (October 2), saying that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025. This is in keeping with the winter season schedule (slated to start on October 26 this year), subject to the commercial decision of the designated carriers and fulfilment of all operational criteria.

The recent signs of a thaw in India-China relations — notably at a time when New Delhi ’s relationship with Washington has hit a few roadblocks — had built the hope that normalisation of air connectivity was imminent.

Shortly after the MEA’s statement,

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