China Eastern Airlines to resume flights to India after five-year freeze

China Eastern Airlines is set to resume flights between Shanghai and Delhi from November 9, marking a major breakthrough in relations between the two nations. The development comes as Beijing and New Delhi have begun to thaw diplomatic ties, following a period of strained relations that included aggressive US trade policies.

The airline will operate three flights per week on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, according to its website. The move is seen as a significant step towards restoring direct air links between the two countries, which were suspended in 2020 due to a military stand-off along their Himalayan border.

The resumption of commercial flights is largely attributed to a diplomatic thaw that has eased tensions over border clashes. Last year, China and India engaged in a brief but intense military confrontation in Ladakh, resulting in four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers killed.

The US President's increasingly belligerent trade policies are also believed to have contributed to the easing of tensions between Beijing and New Delhi. In September, Trump raised tariffs on Indian imports to a record-high 50 percent, citing India's continued purchases of Russian oil. He also urged the European Union to impose 100 percent tariffs on China and India.

The resumption of flights is expected to boost trade ties between China and India, which have been strained in recent years. However, the move also comes with some complexities, particularly given the ongoing border tensions between the two nations.

For its part, China Eastern Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters news agency. Meanwhile, Indian officials welcomed the development, saying that it would help to strengthen economic ties and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

I'm kinda surprised they're resuming flights without any major issues . I mean, we've had all these diplomatic ups and downs, but I guess the US trade policies were a bit too much for Beijing and New Delhi to handle . Four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian soldiers killed? That's some crazy stuff... But hey, it looks like they're willing to put their differences aside now .

I'm not gonna lie, though - this move does raise some red flags. I mean, border tensions are still a thing, so let's hope both sides can keep it chill . And what about the environmental impact of all these flights? It's not like they're gonna magically make their emissions disappear .

Still, it's a positive step for trade ties and people-to-people exchanges... I guess you could say it's a win-win?

omg this is such amazing news!!! china and india finally getting back on track after all those tense moments... i'm so happy for the people of both countries who get to reconnect with each other through air travel it's also super cool that trade ties are gonna boost between them, i've been hearing so much about how great china and india can collaborate together let's keep this momentum going and hope we see more positive changes in the future

I'm not sure how I feel about this resumption of flights... on one hand, who doesn't love a good trip? but at the same time, given what happened in Ladakh last year... it's all so confusing. I mean, I was just thinking about when I traveled to India back in 2015 and how amazing the food was! now I hear that Chinese nationals are getting visa restrictions which is kinda a bummer.

I'm so stoked to hear that China Eastern Airlines is resuming flights between Shanghai and Delhi! It's like a big ol' breath of fresh air for trade and travel between these two amazing countries ️ I remember when I was studying abroad in India, it was super hard to get back home because of all the visa issues and flight restrictions. Now that this is happening, I'm already thinking about planning a trip to explore both China and India together with my friends It's all about people-to-people exchanges and promoting understanding between nations, right? And yeah, the US trade policies were definitely a major factor in easing tensions between Beijing and New Delhi Maybe this is the start of something beautiful?

OMG u guys I'm literally so hyped about this!!! China Eastern Airlines is finally resuming flights between Shanghai & Delhi after all those years of tension It's like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders, you feel? The fact that diplomatic ties are thawing & the US trade policies aren't as aggressive anymore I mean who doesn't love more air travel options between two major countries?! And can we talk about how this is gonna boost trade ties & people-to-people exchanges?! It's like a beautiful thing, yaaas! But at the same time, I'm also thinking about those border tensions... Like, let's not forget that there's still some work to be done. Still super excited tho!

So like I was thinking, this is actually kinda good news right? China and India finally starting to work together again after all those tensions and whatnot. The US trade policies were getting pretty out of hand, so it's cool that Beijing and New Delhi are trying to distance themselves from that . But at the same time, I'm a bit concerned about the border issues still being there ... can't just forget about that stuff overnight. Guess only time will tell if this is gonna lead to more trade and people-to-people exchanges or not . Three flights a week, huh? Not too shabby ️

I don’t usually comment but I think this is kinda interesting lol . So like China Eastern Airlines is gonna start flying to Delhi again and stuff, after a while they didn't have any direct flights because of some border issues... And now it's all good again thanks to the US trade policies being super aggressive . It’s weird how that can kinda help with other countries' problems too. So yeah I guess this is a pretty big deal for both China and India, they've been trying to improve their relations and all.

The resumption of flights between Shanghai and Delhi is a significant step towards normalizing relations between China and India, but I'm not convinced that it's just a case of diplomatic thawing. There are also deeper structural reasons at play here, particularly with regards to the US's trade policies and their impact on global economic dynamics. The recent tariffs imposed by Trump on Indian imports have had a profound effect on the region's economies, and it'll be interesting to see how this development plays out in practice.

I don’t usually comment but I think this is a super positive sign . I mean, flights resuming after all these years is no joke. It's like a weight has been lifted off both sides. And it makes sense too - trade and people-to-people exchanges are so important for building relationships between nations. The US thing didn't help, tbh . But now that China and India are talking again, I'm all for it . We should be celebrating this kind of progress, not complaining about who said what. Let's focus on the good stuff here . It'll be interesting to see how things play out from here...

This is like déjà vu, remember when we were talking about how China and India needed to reconnect their economies? And now this! The US trade policies were like a wake-up call for both sides to get back on track. I mean, 50% tariffs are crazy talk! Anyway, this is all positive news, right? I just hope the flights go smoothly and don't get disrupted by any more border issues... fingers crossed .

OMG I'm so stoked to see China Eastern Airlines resume flights between Shanghai and Delhi ! It's like a major milestone for diplomatic relations between those two nations . I mean, let's be real, trade policies can get pretty heated between the US, China, and India, but it's awesome that Beijing and New Delhi are finally starting to chill . The fact that the airline is only flying three times a week might seem like a low-key thing, but trust me, this is BIG ! Now we just gotta keep those borders tensions in check and hope for more smooth skies ahead

man this is awesome news!! a direct flight between Shanghai & Delhi? that's gonna be huge for business & tourism! i can already imagine the number of indian entrepreneurs flying to china for trade deals & the chinese tourists flocking to india for adventure the us trade policies might've been annoying, but it looks like they didn't completely ruin the vibe between china & india now we just gotta keep those borders peaceful and watch this airline thrive!

Just had this convo with my mate about the Shanghai-Delhi flight resumptions . Honestly thought it was gonna be a while before we see direct flights again, but I guess diplomatic thawing is good for business too! The fact that it's mainly due to eased tensions over border clashes makes sense - can't have trade and tourism happening if people are still fighting . Trump's trade policies were probs a big factor in this tho - who wouldn't want to chill with China now?

So I'm reading this news about China Eastern resuming flights to Delhi... It's like, nice that they're trying to improve relations with India after all the drama a few years ago. But at the same time, it makes you wonder what's really going on behind the scenes. Like, are we just glossing over some of the bigger issues? The border tensions between China and India aren't exactly something you can just forget about...

And have you thought about how this might affect trade between the two countries? I mean, it's already been a bit rocky in recent years. But hey, if it boosts economic ties that can only be good, right?

What do you think? Are we too optimistic about this whole situation, or is there hope for a more peaceful future?

This is so cool! I was just talking to my friends about how bad things were with China and India a few years ago, and now they're getting back on track. I mean, who wouldn't want to fly to Delhi from Shanghai? The US trade policies under Trump were crazy, by the way - 50% tariffs on Indian imports? That's insane! It'll be interesting to see how this impacts trade between China and India now that things are looking up. And can you imagine all the people who are going to be able to travel back and forth without any issues? The thought of it is just amazing!

Ugh, great, just what we need more flights from China ️. Like, can't they just let us enjoy our Sunday funday without having to worry about some Chinese plane landing on our soil? And who's really surprised that Beijing and New Delhi are "thawing" their diplomatic ties after a few aggressive trade policies from the US? I mean, it's not like India was all like "hey, we're gonna stay out of it" or anything... Nope, they just took the easy way out.

finally, some good news about China & India getting along. I mean, who needs human rights when you've got trade deals, right? seriously though, it's kinda cool that they're resuming flights after all those border issues came up. I guess the US didn't totally ruin everything... yet. 50% tariffs are a whole thing, but hey, maybe we'll get to enjoy some Indian spices on our plane food soon? idk about me tho, as long as they don't charge us an arm & leg for tickets, i'm good

just saw the news about China Eastern Airlines restarting flights between Shanghai & Delhi in Nov like a major win for diplomatic relations can't wait to see more travel opportunities between these 2 awesome countries! the easing of tensions is music to my ears hope it leads to a stronger trade partnership and people-to-people exchanges

finally some good news about china & india! they've been all chill in 2020 but then trump came along and made everything awkward again . anyway, i guess this is a win for both nations - china gets to fly to delhi without being hated by indians (most of the time), and india gets to have more chinese friends to shop from . but let's be real, it's not like they're going to start hugging each other or anything . still, i suppose this is a step in the right direction towards less drama between them . now can we just get some decent wifi on these flights so people can actually work while flying?