Ariana Afghan Airlines has resumed direct flights between Kabul and New Delhi after receiving fresh operating clearance from Indian civil aviation authorities, restoring one of Afghanistan’s key international air links.
The state-owned airline announced on Monday that scheduled services on the Kabul–Delhi route had resumed and would operate according to the published timetable. Ariana did not explain the reason for the earlier disruption.
Neither Ariana nor Indian aviation authorities disclosed details of the regulatory approval. However, international carriers operating to and from Afghanistan remain subject to aviation safety and operational compliance requirements.
The resumption follows a runway incident involving an Ariana aircraft at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in December 2025.
According to Indian media reports, including India Today, Ariana Flight FG311 from Kabul landed on Runway 29R while another aircraft had been cleared for departure on the same runway. Air traffic controllers intervened and directed the aircraft onto a taxiway, preventing a potential runway conflict.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) subsequently opened an investigation into the incident, examining cockpit communications, air traffic control procedures and operational compliance.
Neither Ariana nor the DGCA has said whether the investigation was connected to the latest operating clearance.
Air links between Afghanistan and India have become increasingly important since the political changes in Afghanistan in 2021. India remains a major destination for Afghan patients, students, traders and humanitarian organizations, while direct flights also facilitate cargo movement and commercial exchanges.
Despite limited diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, India has continued humanitarian assistance and maintained practical cooperation in areas including trade, aviation and regional connectivity.
The restoration of direct Kabul–Delhi flights is expected to improve travel for passengers and strengthen commercial links between the two countries.
