Direct flights between India and the Philippines are expected to start this year, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Harsh Kumar Jain said this week. Indian full-service airline Air India and budget carrier IndiGo are being looked at to serve on the route, Jain shared.

It was the latest thaw in relations between the two countries, whose troops were involved in deadly skirmishes high in the Himalayas in 2020.

Flights were interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions, and a clash high in the Himalayas kept them grounded after they were lifted.

India and China have agreed to resume direct flights after a five-year pause, marking a significant step in restoring ties between the two nations. This decision is expected to boost bilateral trade,

For the first time in nearly five years, direct flights between China and India are set to resume. The New York Times reports the development comes as relations between the two countries improve after hitting one of their lowest points in recent memory,