China and India's economic and trade cooperation is expected to gain new momentum with the resumption of direct flights, scheduled to take place before the end of October, which could help revive multiple sectors and bring greater stability and sustainability to the development of bilateral relations, experts and industry insiders told the Global Times.

Indigo, an Indian airline, recently announced it will have a daily direct between Delhi and South China's Guangzhou, Guangdong Province from November 10, shortly after the airline links Kolkata and Guangzhou from October 26, Times of India reported, noting that the airline has been among the first airlines to reinstate flights between the two countries.

"The resumption of operations between two of the world's most populous nations presents immense potential for cultural exchange and economic collaboration," Times of India reported, citing IndiGo head of global sales Vinay Malhotra.

Air India is expected to resume flights to China by the end of 2025, with the Delhi-Shanghai route being the first to reopen, the Economic Times previously reported, citing people aware of the development.

Since direct flights between China and India were suspended in 2020, passengers from both countries have been forced to transfer through third destinations such as Dubai and Singapore, resulting in travel times increasing by more than 40 percent, Zhang Baoxin, an industry insider, told the Global Times on Thursday. Because of the transfer, a journey that used to take less than six hours has been extended to over ten hours, with costs surging by about 40 percent, Zhang said, noting that with the resumption of direct flights, much of the transfer demand will be converted into direct traffic, which will not only enhance passengers' travel experience but also reshape the aviation network structure across Asia.

Li Mengran, media and public relations manager at domestic travel agency UTour, told the Global Times that they have noted the news about the upcoming resumption of direct flights between China and India. Before the pandemic, most of the company's India-bound travel products focused on destinations in the northern part of the country, said Li, noting that with the restoration of direct flights, they plan to develop more comprehensive, panoramic travel packages that will allow Chinese tourists to gain a fuller understanding of India.

"During the five years when direct flights were suspended, trade costs between China and India increased significantly... With the gradual reopening of flights between major cities in both countries, the potential for economic and trade cooperation is expected to be further unleashed," Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.

Direct flights act as an "accelerator" for economic and trade relations between the two countries, reshaping business confidence and networks, Dong Ruixia, a manager with an Indian travel agency, told the Global Times. Over the past five years, limited passenger connectivity has reduced supply chain coordination efficiency, while the resumption of direct flights will help revitalize business networks, the industry insider said.

Responding to a media inquiry for comment after India's Foreign Ministry said that direct flights between India and China will resume before the end of October, Guo Jiakun, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed at a regular press conference on October 9 that the two countries will restart direct flights before the end of October this year. This is the latest move that demonstrates how the two sides faithfully act on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of states in Tianjin on August 31.

It's also an active move that facilitates the friendly exchanges of over 2.8 billion Chinese and Indian people, Guo said.

China stands ready to work with India to view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, be friends enjoying good-neighborliness and partners helping each other succeed, and realize a cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant so as to deliver more tangibly for the two peoples and make due contributions to upholding peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond, the spokesperson said.

(Source: Global Times)