Air India on Monday (November 17, 2025) became the second Indian airline to announce the resumption of flights to China after a gap of nearly six years with Delhi to Shanghai service resuming from February 1.

The Delhi- Shanghai flights will operate four times a week. Air India will use its Boeing 787-8 aircraft, featuring 18 flat beds in Business Class and 238 spacious seats in Economy Class, it said in a press statement.

The airline also plans to introduce Mumbai- Shanghai flights, subject to regulatory approvals. India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a press statement on October 2, 2025 announcing that the two sides had agreed to restart air connectivity after a gap of five years.

IndiGo’s flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou on October 26 was the first direct flight since the government announcement. It has also started Delhi to Guangzhou flights from November 10.

From the Chinese side, China Eastern has also started Shanghai-Delhi thrive weekly service from November 9.