China Eastern Airlines has announced it will increase its direct flight frequency between Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi from three to five flights per week, beginning on January 2, 2026.
The expanded schedule will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On the Delhi-to-Shanghai leg (flight MU564) departure is scheduled around 19:55 IST with an arrival in Shanghai early the next morning; the return leg (MU563) from Shanghai departs at 12:50 PM and arrives in New Delhi at 17:45 local time.
Flights will be flown on an Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft featuring 17 lie-flat business-class seats (MINPRO configuration) and approximately 245 economy seats.
The move follows the route’s recent recommencement on November 9, 2025, after a hiatus of more than five years in direct passenger services between the two countries.
Why It’s Important
- The increase signals strengthening air connectivity between China and India, facilitating travel for business, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges.
- For Indian travellers, Shanghai Pudong serves as a major hub for onward connections across China, Japan, Korea and other destinations, increasing travel options.
- The expanded service provides greater flexibility and capacity for both leisure and corporate passengers, as demand on the India-China corridor picks up ahead of full post-pandemic recovery.
China Eastern has also indicated future route expansion plans in the region, including routes such as Shanghai–Mumbai and Kunming–Kolkata. This is mainly to further tap into growing travel flows between India and China.
This development underscores a broader trend of improving aviation ties and boosting travel opportunities between the two major economies.
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