Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a major step towards normalizing relations, China Eastern Airlines has announced the resumption of Shanghai-Delhi flights from November 9, 2025, marking the first direct air link between the two Asian giants in five years. The move comes as India and China continue to ease tensions following years of diplomatic strain and a military stand-off along their Himalayan border.

According to the airline’s website, China Eastern Airlines will operate Shanghai-Delhi flights three times a week—on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The decision is being widely viewed as a symbol of improving diplomatic ties, driven partly by the shifting global trade landscape and U.S. economic policies that have compelled both nations to reassess their bilateral relationship.

The Shanghai-Delhi flights resumption follows India’s recent confirmation that commercial flights between India and China would restart after a five-year suspension. The announcement came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, his first in over seven years. During the meeting, both sides discussed trade imbalances and economic cooperation, signaling a willingness to restore connectivity and trust.

A statement from India’s foreign ministry earlier this month emphasized that reopening air routes like the Shanghai-Delhi flights would boost tourism, business travel, and cultural exchange between the neighboring countries. Officials added that such steps could help restore normalcy to a relationship strained since 2020, when deadly clashes along the border halted direct air services and froze diplomatic progress.

The return of China Eastern Airlines Shanghai-Delhi flights is expected to enhance connectivity not only for tourists and students but also for businesses engaged in manufacturing and technology sectors. Industry experts say this move could strengthen supply chain ties and revive bilateral trade, which has remained imbalanced in China’s favor.

Meanwhile, IndiGo Airlines—India’s largest carrier—recently announced daily nonstop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou, another sign that commercial and people-to-people links between India and China are beginning to recover. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport also said it would encourage more airlines to open routes such as Guangzhou-Delhi, further expanding air connectivity in the region.

Direct flights between India and China were first suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, the situation deteriorated later that year when clashes in the Galwan Valley led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops, resulting in the worst violence between the two nations in decades.

The reopening of Shanghai-Delhi flights by China Eastern Airlines now stands as a strong symbol of reconciliation. Analysts suggest that it aligns with both governments’ broader goal to stabilize economic cooperation amid changing global alliances and rising trade barriers from the United States.

The U.S. administration, under President Donald Trump, recently imposed steep tariffs—50 percent on Indian imports and 100 percent on Chinese goods—aiming to pressure both nations over their ties with Russia. These trade measures have inadvertently pushed India and China to find common ground, including reopening direct air routes to strengthen regional economic resilience.

For travelers, the return of China Eastern Airlines’ Shanghai-Delhi flights means greater accessibility and convenience, especially for business professionals and students who frequently travel between the two countries. The three-times-a-week service is expected to expand in the coming months, depending on passenger demand and diplomatic momentum.

As the global political and economic order continues to evolve, the resumption of Shanghai-Delhi flights could serve as a meaningful first step in rebuilding trust between New Delhi and Beijing—two of Asia’s most powerful capitals. For now, the sight of a China Eastern Airlines jet landing in Delhi after half a decade represents not just the reopening of a route, but the rekindling of dialogue between nations once at odds.

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