China Eastern Airlines to resume Shanghai-Delhi flights from Nov 9

By Reuters   October 19, 2025 | 04:44 pm PT
China Eastern Airlines to resume Shanghai-Delhi flights from Nov 9
A China Eastern Airlines aircraft is seen at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, July 22, 2020. Photo by Reuters
State-backed China Eastern Airlines will resume Shanghai-Delhi flights from Nov. 9, the airline's website showed, as China and India resume direct air links amid a diplomatic thaw after a five-year freeze.

The flights will operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the airline's online ticket sales platform showed. China Eastern Airlines did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

India's foreign ministry said earlier this month that commercial flights between the two neighboring countries would restart after a five-year freeze.

The announcement followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to China in over seven years, for a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization regional security bloc. The two sides discussed ways to improve trade ties, while Modi raised concerns about India's burgeoning bilateral trade deficit.

India and China's foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Shanghai-Delhi flights.

India's largest carrier, IndiGo, previously announced it would start daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou.

State-backed Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport said at the time of the IndiGo announcement that it would encourage airlines to open more direct routes, such as between Guangzhou and Delhi.

The two countries suspended direct air links in 2020 after deadly troop clashes along their Himalayan border led to a prolonged military standoff.

 
 
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