Ariana Did Not Explain the Earlier Disruption, and Neither Ariana Nor Indian Authorities Disclosed Regulatory Approval Details

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 Monday that scheduled services on the Kabul–Delhi route had resumed and would operate per the published timetable. Ariana did not explain the earlier disruption, and neither Ariana nor Indian authorities disclosed regulatory approval details.

International carriers to and from Afghanistan remain subject to aviation safety and operational compliance requirements. The resumption follows a December 2025 runway incident at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, when Ariana Flight FG311 from Kabul landed on Runway 29R while another aircraft had been cleared for departure on the same runway. Air traffic controllers directed the aircraft onto a taxiway, preventing a potential conflict.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation 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 linked to the latest clearance. Air links between Afghanistan and India have grown in importance since 2021 political changes in Afghanistan.

India remains a major destination for Afghan patients, students, traders and humanitarian organizations, while direct flights facilitate cargo movement and commercial exchanges. Despite limited diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan's Taliban authorities, India has continued humanitarian assistance and practical cooperation in trade, aviation and regional connectivity. Delhi flights are expected to improve travel and strengthen commercial ties.