Air India To Resume Flights from Delhi to Shanghai - Check When it's starting

November 18, 2025 at 05:28 AM•2 min read•Times Now Digital

After a six-year hiatus, Air India is reconnecting Delhi and Shanghai, but what Boeing aircraft will serve the route?

Key Points

1Air India will resume Delhi-Shanghai flights on February 1, 2026.
2Flights were suspended in early 2020 due to the pandemic.
3The route will be served by Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
4Air India plans to introduce Mumbai-Shanghai flights in 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
5The resumption follows recent India-China diplomatic agreements.

Air India is set to resume its direct flights between Delhi and Shanghai on February 1, 2026, marking a significant step in restoring air connectivity between India and China. The Tata Group-owned airline had suspended services to Shanghai in early 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The resumption follows recent diplomatic agreements between India and China that have paved the way for the restoration of air links.

Air India plans to operate four weekly flights between Delhi and Shanghai using its Boeing 787-8 aircraft. These aircraft are configured with 18 business class seats and 238 economy class seats, catering to both business and leisure travelers. Shanghai will become the 48th international destination served by the Air India group, further expanding its global network.

The airline also intends to introduce non-stop services between Mumbai and Shanghai in 2026, pending regulatory approvals. This move signifies Air India's commitment to strengthening its presence in the Chinese market and catering to the growing demand for air travel between the two countries.

Other airlines, including IndiGo and China Eastern Airlines, have also resumed or introduced flights between India and China, indicating a broader trend of normalizing air travel between the two nations. These developments are expected to boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between India and China.