IndiGo Resumes Direct Flights Between Kolkata and Guangzhou After 4-Year Hiatus: Strengthening India-China Air Connectivity

The IndiGo A320 Neo aircraft departed from the airport carrying 176 passengers, marking the resumption of direct flights between India and China.

Kolkata:

Direct commercial air services between Kolkata and mainland China's Guangzhou city resumed on Sunday after a gap of more than four years. The first flight took off from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 10 pm, according to an official.

The IndiGo private carrier's A320 Neo aircraft departed with 176 passengers on board, the official confirmed.

These direct flights had been operational between the two countries until early 2020 before being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The services remained halted amid the eastern Ladakh border tensions between India and China.

IndiGo has now restored direct commercial passenger flight services to China, establishing daily non-stop flights connecting Kolkata to Guangzhou, following recent diplomatic breakthroughs between the two nations.

A brief ceremony marked the occasion at the airport, which included the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by one of the passengers. This gesture symbolized the renewed spirit of friendship and cooperation between India and China, an official noted.

NSCBI Airport Director P R Beuria attended the event alongside officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and IndiGo Airlines.

Beuria emphasized that the revival of this direct route would strengthen business and tourism ties while providing greater convenience to travelers journeying between these two major cities.

Officials stated that the resumption of daily direct connections between Kolkata and Guangzhou will further enhance West Bengal's capital position as a significant international aviation hub in eastern India.