​​​​​​In a seismic boost to India-China connectivity, China Eastern Airlines has fired the starting gun on a 67 % capacity explosion on its flagship Shanghai–Delhi route. Effective January 2, 2026, the carrier will escalate from three to five weekly non-stop flights, deploying its cavernous Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft—each packing up to 262 seats across business and economy—to swallow surging demand. The move, announced on October 31, 2025, catapults the route into high gear just two months after direct India-China skies reopen for the first time since the 2020 COVID-border double whammy grounded all links.

The ramp-up is no mere schedule tweak; it’s a strategic artery for billions in bilateral trade and a lifeline for business travelers, students, and medical tourists. Shanghai, China’s commercial supernova, and Delhi, India’s political nerve center, will now enjoy Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday departures—offering same-week round trips and weekend getaways previously impossible. China Eastern’s A330-200 fleet, featuring lie-flat business class pods and 24-inch economy pitch, signals premium intent: executives sealing semiconductor deals in Pudong can now return before the weekend, while Bollywood location scouts and Diwali shoppers gain budget-friendly red-eye options.

This escalation crowns a rapid thaw in aviation diplomacy. Direct passenger flights vanished in early 2020 amid pandemic lockdowns, then stayed buried under the eastern Ladakh military standoff. A breakthrough came on October 2, 2025, when India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed resumption by month-end following “continuous technical-level engagement.” IndiGo ignited the fuse on October 26 with Kolkata–Guangzhou restarts; China Eastern follows suit November 9 with initial Shanghai–Delhi tri-weekly service (Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays) on the same A330-200 hardware. January’s doubling is the knockout punch—restoring China Eastern’s full pre-pandemic India footprint and anointing InterGlobe Air Transport (since 2002 the airline’s exclusive GSA in India) as the gatekeeper to 130+ weekly seats in each direction.

Also Read: IndiGo Restores Kolkata–Guangzhou Flights After Five-Year Gap

Beyond balance sheets, the route is a cultural detonator. “This marks the full restoration of China Eastern’s India network, injecting fresh momentum into people-to-people exchanges,” the airline declared. Expect a flood of Mandarin-speaking tourists descending on Qutub Minar, Delhi techies flooding Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, and cross-border weddings restarting after half a decade. Cargo bellies beneath those A330s will brim with iPhone components, generic pharmaceuticals, and Kashmiri saffron—shrinking a $100 billion+ trade corridor from weeks to hours.

With slots at Delhi’s congested Terminal 3 already at breaking point, China Eastern’s pre-emptive grab locks in prime evening arrivals (around 11:50 PM) and red-eye departures (2:30 AM), minimizing connection pain for Star Alliance partners. Travelers are warned: demand will outstrip supply fast. Early-bird fares are live on China Eastern’s app and via InterGlobe, but premium economy is already 40 % booked through Chinese New Year. As King Khan turns 60 this weekend, another king—China Eastern—is quietly reclaiming the skies. Secure your seat before the dragon roars.

Also Read: India-China Flights Resume After 5 Years as China Eastern Restarts Shanghai-Delhi Route