China Eastern resumes Shanghai-Delhi flights after five-year hiatus

China Eastern Airlines has officially resumed its Shanghai-Delhi passenger service, restoring direct air connectivity between China and India after a five-year suspension. On November 9, flight MU563 departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 248 passengers bound for New Delhi, marking China Eastern as the first Chinese carrier in 2025 to resume passenger services between China and India. The inaugural flight achieved a load factor of over 95 percent.

The Shanghai-Delhi route will operate three times a week – on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. China Eastern also plans to increase flight frequency based on market demand and expand its India network with the resumption of the Kunming-Kolkata route and a new Shanghai-Mumbai service.