IndiGo on Sunday started its inaugural daily non-stop service between Kolkata and Shanghai, marking a major step towards enhancing connectivity between India and China.
The new route builds on its recent expansion in China, including the reinstatement of earlier Kolkata-Guangzhou flights, the airline said in a press release.
The flight from Kolkata to Shanghai will depart daily at 9:45 PM and arrive at 4:40 AM the next day, while the return flight will depart Shanghai at 5:40 AM and arrive in Kolkata at 9:05 AM.
The service will be provided using Airbus A320neo aircraft, providing improved fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.
With the start of this service, many cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, etc., will be able to connect to Shanghai via Kolkata.
Speaking about the services, Vinay Malhotra, head of global sales at IndiGo, said the new route will “facilitate increased business as well as leisure travel opportunities”.
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“Besides our existing daily connection from Delhi and Kolkata to Guangzhou, we now operate 21 weekly flights to mainland China,” he said.
To book travel, customers can access the official website, IndiGo app or contact authorized travel partners. The airline has also informed that passengers can pre-book their meals, including drinks.
The Consulate General of India in Shanghai also posted on X, telling it to start services. “Underlining the positive momentum,” Consulate General Pratik Mathur expressed appreciation for the “growing confidence” expressed through the thriving air connectivity between India and China, the circular said.
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Earlier, IndiGo resumed its Kolkata-Guangzhou service on October 26, 2025, becoming the first Indian airline to resume direct flights to China after a five-year hiatus.
The first flight took off from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 10 pm. The A320neo plane belonging to private carrier IndiGo took off from the airport with 176 passengers on board.
