China Eastern Airlines to Resume Flights Between Shanghai and Delhi from Nov 9
In a significant development for travelers between India and China, China Eastern Airlines has announced the resumption of direct flights between Shanghai and New Delhi starting from November 9, 2025. This move marks a step forward in the normalization of air travel relations between the two countries after a five-year hiatus.
Flight Schedule and Details
The flights will operate on a three-day weekly schedule — every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday — offering greater convenience to passengers looking to travel between these two major cities. The outbound flight will depart from Shanghai’s Pudong Airport at 12:50 PM and is scheduled to arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 5:45 PM (local time).
For return journeys, the flight will leave Delhi at 7:55 PM and reach Shanghai at 4:10 AM the next day. This schedule aims to cater to both business and leisure travelers, ensuring ease of travel with well-timed connections.
A Sign of Strengthened Ties
The resumption of flights is seen as a positive development in the broader context of India-China relations. The move follows a historic meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, earlier this year. During this summit, both leaders discussed measures to restart direct flights between selected cities, which had been suspended due to the pandemic and other geopolitical factors.
The decision to revive air links between the two countries comes after years of reduced connectivity, and is expected to benefit tourism, business, and cultural exchanges. The airline has already begun selling tickets for the Shanghai-Delhi route, which will officially take to the skies next month.
A Growing Air Connectivity Between India and China
This announcement follows a similar move by IndiGo, which revealed plans to launch daily flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou, China, beginning October 26, 2025. IndiGo also has plans to extend its service to Delhi-Guangzhou, further enhancing the connectivity between the two nations.
With these steps, both China Eastern Airlines and IndiGo are contributing to the growing air travel options between India and China, ensuring smoother and more frequent connections for passengers. The increasing number of direct flights is expected to open new avenues for bilateral trade, tourism, and education.
Conclusion
For those planning to visit China or India in the coming months, the return of direct flights between Shanghai and Delhi offers a more efficient and reliable travel option. As the two nations continue to strengthen their ties, these flights are a symbol of renewed cooperation and the gradual return to normalcy in international travel.
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