China carrier to resume Shanghai-Delhi flights after four-year gap

In a major step towards normalising bilateral ties and restoring post-pandemic connectivity, China Eastern Airlines on Saturday announced the resumption of direct flights between Shanghai and Delhi, beginning November 9, marking another major China-India route revival after Indigo Airlines.

The airline will operate thrice-weekly round trips — on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays — using an Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft. The outbound flight, MU563, will depart Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 12.50 pm and arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 5.45 pm (local time). The return flight, MU564, will leave Delhi at 7.55 pm and reach Shanghai at 4.10 am the next day. Tickets for the route are already on sale.

Describing the Shanghai-Delhi corridor as one of the most strategically significant air routes between the two Asian giants, China Eastern said the move would boost business, academic and tourism exchanges. “The resumption of this route marks the full restoration of China Eastern Airlines’ China-India network, injecting new impetus into personnel exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries,” the airline said in a statement.

The announcement follows an agreement between India and China on October 2 to resume direct air services between designated points from October 26. The understanding marks a major confidence-building step between the two neighbours after years of strained ties.

Civil aviation authorities from both sides have been in technical-level talks since early 2025 to revise the existing Air Services Agreement and finalise safety and operational protocols.

Officials said the restart aligns with the upcoming winter flight schedule, subject to commercial readiness by the airlines and fulfilment of regulatory clearances. “Resuming direct connectivity will enhance air links, support people-to-people exchanges and contribute to deeper economic collaboration,” a senior aviation official said.

The resumption was also discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Both leaders agreed that the two countries were “development partners” and that “differences should not be allowed to become disputes”, according to the MEA’s August 31 readout.

Diplomatic sources said the flight restoration forms part of a broader outreach, including steps to reopen the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra route and reintroduce tourist visa channels, which were suspended after the 2020 border clashes.

Earlier, IndiGo Airlines had also announced it will resume daily non-stop services between Kolkata and Guangzhou from October 26, pending regulatory clearance. The airline will deploy Airbus A320neo aircraft on the route and opened bookings from October 3. IndiGo also plans to launch direct Delhi-Guangzhou flights later this year once approvals are finalised.