India and China resume direct flights after a five-year hiatus
According to a reporter from Sputnik News, India and China resumed direct flights between the two countries after more than 5 years of interruption, starting from Sunday.
The first flight of Indigo, Asia's second-largest airline and one of the world's largest airlines, will depart from Kolkata to Guangzhou in the evening on Sunday. China Eastern Airlines will also resume flights from Shanghai to New Delhi from November 9th. The company will operate three flights per week - Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, using A330-200 aircraft.
Zheng Yong, Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Kolkata, said that the initial goal is to connect Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen with Delhi and Kolkata.
He stated the day before: "We proposed the concept of 'fourth-tier cities'. Fourth-tier cities in China refer to small but rapidly developing urban centers outside of major commercial centers. In recent years, these cities have experienced explosive growth in infrastructure, industry, and retail markets. They can play an increasingly important role in strengthening the domestic economies of India and China. We are committed to building a sincere and closer partnership with India to promote trade and business between the two countries."
An representative from the Indian Airport Authority pointed out that the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry hopes that direct flights will bring significant economic benefits to the region.
"The recovery of air transport will significantly improve trade between eastern India and southern China, especially in sectors such as textiles, electronics, and small-batch production. This will also promote tourism between the two countries," said the official.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, all direct flights to China were suspended. After the border clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in April to May 2020, which brought bilateral relations to their lowest point in six decades, direct flights had not been restored yet.
In early October, the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry announced that direct flights would resume by the end of October, following continued technical consultations between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries, which is a clear signal of the countries' efforts to restore bilateral relations.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847033668000844/
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