China Eastern Reconnects China and India with Resumed Shanghai–Delhi Route

China Eastern Airlines has resumed its Shanghai–Delhi route after a five-year break, becoming the first Chinese carrier to reconnect China and India in 2025. Operating thrice weekly with an Airbus A330, the service aims to boost trade, tourism, and cultural ties, with plans for more routes to strengthen air connectivity between the two nations.

After a five-year suspension, direct air travel between China and India is officially back on the map. On Sunday, China Eastern Airlines (CEA) flight MU563 departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 1:02 p.m., bound for Delhi with 248 passengers on board. The flight marks the long-awaited restart of the Shanghai–Delhi route, making CEA the first Chinese carrier to resume passenger services between the two nations in 2025. The inaugural flight saw occupancy surpass 95 percent, underscoring the strong demand for travel between the two major Asian hubs.

The Shanghai–Delhi service operates with an Airbus A330 wide-body jet, offering three weekly flights on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. According to the schedule, flight MU563 departs Shanghai at 12:50 p.m. and lands in Delhi at 5:45 p.m. local time. The return journey, flight MU564, takes off from Delhi at 7:55 p.m. and reaches Shanghai around 4:10 a.m. the next morning—an eight-hour flight bridging two of Asia’s fastest-growing economic centers.

The reopening of this air link is expected to play a pivotal role in fostering renewed cooperation between China and India, bolstering business ties, tourism, and cultural exchange. Aviation industry analysts see the restored connection as a significant step in strengthening bilateral economic activity and enhancing regional connectivity.

CEA has announced that it will monitor passenger demand and may adjust flight frequency accordingly. Beyond the Shanghai–Delhi corridor, the airline is also considering reviving its Kunming–Kolkata service and introducing a new route linking Shanghai with Mumbai. These plans reflect CEA’s broader strategy to expand air connectivity between the two populous nations.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport, CEA’s main operational hub, offers passengers seamless connections to dozens of Chinese cities as well as international destinations across North America, East Asia, and Europe. On the other end, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport—one of India’s busiest aviation centers—provides strong transfer options to major cities across India and access to South Asia, the Middle East, and select routes to Europe and Africa.

As air travel rebounds globally, the renewed Shanghai–Delhi route represents more than a restored flight path—it’s a symbol of reopening bridges between two of Asia’s most influential economies, paving the way for greater exchange, cooperation, and shared growth.