Flight Service: First flight to China after 5 years, service begins from Kolkata

Flight Service: New Delhi: After many meetings, flight service between India and China has finally resumed. This service, which had been suspended for five years, has been restarted. Indigo flight 6E1703 took off from Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport heading towards Guangzhou, China. The aircraft departed for China at 10 PM. The airport director also shared a video of the flight on social media. The flight is scheduled to arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 4 AM.

The goal behind resuming flight services between the two countries is to facilitate trade, tourism, and people-to-people connections. Indigo will operate daily non-stop flight services between Kolkata and Guangzhou. Additional flight services between Delhi and Guangzhou will begin on November 10. The Shanghai-Delhi route will resume on November 9.

A spokesperson for Indigo stated that the flights will operate daily. A brief ceremony was held at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) before the flight’s departure. As a symbol of new friendship and cooperation, a Chinese passenger lit a lamp.

The airport director of NSCBI, officials from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), and Indigo Airlines were present at this event.

The Deputy Consul General of China stated on Sunday, “Today is a very important day in India-China relations. This is a major improvement in bilateral relations after five years of suspension. We have been hoping for this for a long time, and this is very important for our bilateral relations.” He described the decision to resume flights as the first outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He stated, “The Chinese side places great importance on bilateral relations with India, and over the years, our leaders have demonstrated common ground, and today’s direct flight resumption is the first outcome of the agreement reached between the two leaders.”

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the primary international airport serving Kolkata, India. Originally known as Dum Dum Airport, it was established in the 1920s and was one of the first airports in India. It was renamed in 2003 in honor of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is the major airport serving Guangzhou, China. It opened at its current location in 2004, replacing the older airport of the same name, to accommodate the region’s rapid growth. It has since become one of the busiest transportation hubs in China and a vital gateway to the Pearl River Delta region.

Kolkata

Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, was established as a British East India Company trading post in 1690 and served as the capital of British India until 1911. The city is a vibrant cultural and intellectual hub, renowned for its colonial architecture, such as the Victoria Memorial, and as the birthplace of Bengali Renaissance figures like Rabindranath Tagore. Today, it remains famous for its literary heritage, artistic contributions, and annual Durga Puja festival.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou is a major port city in southern China with a history spanning over 2,200 years. It was a key terminus of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and later became a critical trading hub for European merchants. Today, it is a modern metropolis known for its Cantonese culture and the iconic Canton Tower.

Delhi

Delhi is India’s capital territory and a historic city that has served as the capital for several empires, including the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. It is home to iconic landmarks such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb, which reflect its rich and layered history. Today, it stands as a bustling modern metropolis that seamlessly blends its ancient heritage with contemporary urban life.

Shanghai

Shanghai is a major global financial hub and the largest city in China, located on the central coast. It grew from a small fishing village into a significant port, heavily influenced by Western trade and concessions in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it is renowned for its striking skyline, including the iconic Pudong district, and its blend of historic architecture with modern development.

India

India is a South Asian nation with one of the world’s oldest civilizations, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization around 2500 BCE. It is the birthplace of four major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—and is renowned for its vast cultural diversity, historic empires, and architectural marvels like the Taj Mahal. After a long period of British colonial rule, India gained independence in 1947 and is now the world’s largest democracy.

China

China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, with a recorded history spanning over four millennia and dynasties such as the Qin, which first unified the country in 221 BCE. It is renowned for its profound cultural contributions, including inventions like paper and gunpowder, and iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Today, it is a major global power, blending its ancient traditions with rapid modernization.