China Eastern Airlines has announced an increase in its direct flights between Shanghai Pudong and New Delhi from three to five per week, starting January 2, 2026, in response to strong passenger demand from the Indian market.
According to an official statement from the carrier, Flight MU564 will depart from New Delhi at 19:55 and arrive in Shanghai at 4:10 the following morning. The return flight, MU563, will leave Shanghai Pudong at 12:50 pm and reach New Delhi at 17:45 local time.
The enhanced service will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All flights will be conducted using Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft, offering 17 lie-flat MINPRO business-class seats and 245 economy-class seats to accommodate rising demand.
InterGlobe Air Transport, which represents several international carriers in India, will oversee China Eastern’s commercial and operational activities, including sales, marketing, ticketing, and customer support.
The airline also revealed plans to introduce new routes connecting Kunming to Kolkata and Shanghai Pudong to Mumbai in the near future. The move, it said, is expected to strengthen India–China bilateral ties through increased trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchange.
“Boosting connectivity between major Indian and Chinese cities will support growing business and travel demand between the two economies,” a company spokesperson said.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport, one of China’s busiest aviation hubs, will continue to serve as a key gateway for international travellers. Passengers flying from New Delhi will be able to connect onward to cities across mainland China as well as international destinations in North America, Japan, South Korea, and Europe.
China Eastern Airlines had previously resumed its Shanghai–Delhi route on November 9, 2025, following a five-year suspension due to the pandemic and related travel restrictions. The airline noted that its expansion reflects the recovery of international travel between India and China.
Before air services were halted in 2020, the two countries together operated approximately 2,588 scheduled flights in 2019, according to data from global aviation analytics firm OAG.
Meanwhile, strengthening bilateral air connectivity, India’s budget carrier IndiGo recently operated a flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou, marking the first direct flight between the two nations since 2020. The flight carried 180 passengers and was received with a warm welcome in China.
IndiGo has also announced plans to begin new daily direct services between New Delhi and Guangzhou starting November 10, further improving travel and business links between India and China.
The increase in flight frequency by China Eastern and the re-entry of IndiGo into Chinese airspace signal a renewed phase of cooperation between the two countries’ aviation sectors, expected to drive cross-border commerce, tourism, and educational mobility in the coming year.
