China Eastern Airlines upgrades Delhi-Shanghai service to daily nonstop flights

December 18, 2025 at 12:00 AM•2 min read

China Eastern Airlines confirms daily nonstop flights connecting Delhi and Shanghai starting January 2, 2026.

Key Points

1China Eastern Airlines will launch daily nonstop flights between Delhi and Shanghai starting January 2, 2026, significantly boosting bilateral connectivity.
2The service was immediately upgraded to daily operations from an initial phased plan due to unexpectedly robust passenger demand and trade partner feedback.
3This expansion follows the route's relaunch in November 2025 after a nearly five-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged border tensions.
4The restoration of air services is part of broader confidence-building measures following recent diplomatic de-escalation between India and China.

China Eastern Airlines (MU) announced it will inaugurate daily nonstop service between Delhi (DEL) and Shanghai (PVG) beginning January 2, 2026. The move, confirmed by the Chinese Embassy in India, reflects robust passenger demand and the airline's commitment to strengthening air connectivity between the two nations.

The decision to move directly to daily operations represents a significant acceleration of the carrier's plans. The Delhi-Shanghai route was successfully relaunched in November 2025 after a nearly five-year suspension. Initially, China Eastern had planned a phased increase in frequency from three to five weekly flights, but strong market response and positive feedback from trade partners prompted the immediate upgrade to a daily schedule. Furthermore, the airline indicated plans for continued expansion, including the imminent return of the Kolkata-Kunming route and development of a new direct connection between Mumbai and Shanghai.

Flight services between India and China were halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remained suspended for years amidst heightened border tensions following the Galwan Valley clashes. The restoration and subsequent expansion of air travel are viewed as key confidence-building measures, following diplomatic and military-level talks that led to disengagement agreements in friction areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This resumption of connectivity signals a tangible improvement in bilateral relations.