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NEW DELHI: For the first time post Covid, direct flights will finally resume between India and China very soon. Sources say while Chinese carriers can resume flights “from tomorrow”, Indian carriers need to do so some work before doing so. So India proposes to resume flights when airlines of both sides are able to do so, which should not take “too much time” and could happen within a month or so.“The air service agreement (ASA or bilaterals) between India and China has to be revised. There can be a dialogue on that. But the issue is do we wait for the ASA to be revised or resume flights under the existing bilaterals. The latter seems more likely,” said sources. An announcement to the effect is likely to be made when PM Modi visits Tianjin later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.“Chinese carriers can start flights as soon as a decision is made. Indian carriers, IndiGo and Air India, have some operational issues like their pre-Covid slots at Chinese airports that have been given away to other carriers. Our airlines will take some time and we are of the view flights should resume when carriers of both sides are able to resume operations. That should not take very long and can happen in a month or so,” said sources.Indian carriers, on their part, are waiting for government policy on China flights. “We have been sounded out that flights will resume and are awaiting the framework for that, whether it happens under the revised or existing bilaterals. We haven’t flown to China since early 2020, so over 5.5 years now. We will need to do safety risk assessment and re-qualification of pilots for the same based on the limitations of the airport we used to operate to in China. We will have to reapply for all permissions and validations,” said senior officials of Indian carriers.In 2019, India and China had 539 direct flights operated by airlines including Air India, IndiGo, China Southern and China Eastern. In March 2020, international flights were halted during Covid. The Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020 sent ties between the two countries in deep chill.Now US President Trump’s threat of steep tariffs on India and China have brought a thaw in those ties. Direct flight connectivity will be restored soon along with tourist visas.Since 2020 travelling between India and China means doing so through a third country, mostly in Southeast Asia.
