KOLKATA: Monica Liu is deeply connected to Beijing, the ‘Tangra-style’ Chinese restaurant that serves as the vibrant center in Kolkata’s Chinatown. For the first time in five years, she found herself on a direct flight from her home city to the land of her ancestors. Liu was among the initial group of 176 passengers to board IndiGo’s revived Kolkata-Guangzhou flight, which has restored direct air connectivity between India and China, disrupted by the Covid pandemic and further strained by diplomatic tensions following border clashes in 2020. For someone who previously traveled frequently between the two nations to visit family, the wait felt much longer than five years for Liu. “I am flying to reunite with some of my relatives back in China. I used to fly regularly between Kolkata and China before Covid. Now that direct flights are available again, I am eager to resume my travels,” she stated. The Airbus A320 Neo took off at 10pm, just over two weeks before IndiGo is set to launch its Delhi-Guangzhou service on November 10. China Eastern Airlines is also expected to restart its Shanghai-Delhi flight. Previously, more than 40 weekly flights connected Indian metropolitan areas with Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming, all of which were suspended in 2020. The Union government’s decision to reopen tourist visas for Chinese nationals has facilitated the resumption of flights, with Delhi and Beijing agreeing in principle to restore air services during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to China, his first in seven years, emphasized the importance of viewing the two nations as partners in development rather than rivals. For Arjun Gupta, a businessman from New Town who operates a restaurant and electronics business in China, the return of direct flights means significant savings in both time and money. “For the past five years, we had to take a longer route via Delhi and Bangkok to reach China. This was not only exhausting but also very expensive. I had to restrict my travels. This non-stop flight lasts merely three and a half hours and is significantly more affordable. Pinal Gandhi traveled from Ahmedabad specifically to board the inaugural flight. This is the most advantageous development for my business. I need to travel to China frequently due to a business expansion. IndiGo’s chief executive, Pieter Elbers, stated, this will once again facilitate the smooth movement of individuals, goods, and ideas, while also enhancing the bilateral relationship between two of the world’s most populous nations and rapidly growing economies. With this crucial advancement, we are considering the introduction of additional direct flights to China. Kolkata airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria, along with several senior IndiGo officials, participated in a ceremony prior to departure, during which Liu ignited a ceremonial lamp.
Air travel between India and China has recommenced after a five-year hiatus: IndiGo has launched its Kolkata-Guangzhou flight, marking the first service since 2020
