IndiGo to start daily direct flights between Kolkata and Shanghai
IndiGo will begin daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Shanghai from March 29, 2026. The airline will operate the route with its A320 aircraft. This follows the recent restart of its Guangzhou service and marks another step to improve air links between India and China. Passengers can book tickets on the airline’s website, mobile app and through authorised travel partners.
The new service connects eastern India with China’s financial centre and supports trade and travel between the two countries. Exports from West Bengal to China have grown in FY25-26, including marine products, leather goods and specialised textiles. Direct flights are expected to help businesses move goods and support smoother passenger travel.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of our new daily, direct connectivity between Kolkata and Shanghai, China, in addition to our flights to Guangzhou. This development underscores our commitment to connecting India to key global destinations. Shanghai is the country’s biggest city, a global financial hub, and famous for its dazzling futuristic skyline complemented with historic architecture. This addition to our network will play an important role in facilitating bilateral trade and is expected to boost tourism and promote greater cultural exchange between the two nations,” Vinay Malhotra, Global Head of Sales at IndiGo, said.
According to the schedule effective March 29, 2026, flight 6E 1709 will depart Kolkata at 21:45 and arrive in Shanghai at 04:40 the next day. The return flight, 6E 1710, will depart Shanghai at 05:40 and reach Kolkata at 09:05. All timings are in local time zones and are subject to regulatory approvals.
IndiGo operates a fleet of over 400 aircraft and runs more than 2,200 daily flights. The airline connects over 95 domestic and more than 40 international destinations. It carried 124 million passengers in calendar year 2025.
Air India last month launched a direct flight between Shanghai and New Delhi, resuming services after nearly six years. The airline will operate four flights a week on this route.
China introduced an online visa application system in India from December 20, 2025, to make the process faster for Indian travellers. Applicants can now fill out visa forms and upload required documents on the official website. According to a notice by the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre, applicants must create or log in to their accounts, complete the form online and upload all supporting documents.
They can submit their physical passport and documents at the centre only after the status shows “online review completed” and they receive a confirmation email. The Visa Application Service Centre in New Delhi will continue to assist applicants from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 3 pm at Shivaji Stadium Metro Station in Connaught Place.
The move aims to promote travel and exchanges between India and China. India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals worldwide in November 2025, while business visas were already being issued earlier. Both sides agreed on these steps in 2025 as part of people-focused confidence-building measures.
These measures also included resuming direct commercial flights. The decision is expected to support tourism, trade and wider exchanges between the two countries
The new service connects eastern India with China’s financial centre and supports trade and travel between the two countries. Exports from West Bengal to China have grown in FY25-26, including marine products, leather goods and specialised textiles. Direct flights are expected to help businesses move goods and support smoother passenger travel.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of our new daily, direct connectivity between Kolkata and Shanghai, China, in addition to our flights to Guangzhou. This development underscores our commitment to connecting India to key global destinations. Shanghai is the country’s biggest city, a global financial hub, and famous for its dazzling futuristic skyline complemented with historic architecture. This addition to our network will play an important role in facilitating bilateral trade and is expected to boost tourism and promote greater cultural exchange between the two nations,” Vinay Malhotra, Global Head of Sales at IndiGo, said.
According to the schedule effective March 29, 2026, flight 6E 1709 will depart Kolkata at 21:45 and arrive in Shanghai at 04:40 the next day. The return flight, 6E 1710, will depart Shanghai at 05:40 and reach Kolkata at 09:05. All timings are in local time zones and are subject to regulatory approvals.
IndiGo operates a fleet of over 400 aircraft and runs more than 2,200 daily flights. The airline connects over 95 domestic and more than 40 international destinations. It carried 124 million passengers in calendar year 2025.
Air India last month launched a direct flight between Shanghai and New Delhi, resuming services after nearly six years. The airline will operate four flights a week on this route.
China introduced an online visa application system in India from December 20, 2025, to make the process faster for Indian travellers. Applicants can now fill out visa forms and upload required documents on the official website. According to a notice by the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre, applicants must create or log in to their accounts, complete the form online and upload all supporting documents.
They can submit their physical passport and documents at the centre only after the status shows “online review completed” and they receive a confirmation email. The Visa Application Service Centre in New Delhi will continue to assist applicants from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 3 pm at Shivaji Stadium Metro Station in Connaught Place.
The move aims to promote travel and exchanges between India and China. India resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals worldwide in November 2025, while business visas were already being issued earlier. Both sides agreed on these steps in 2025 as part of people-focused confidence-building measures.
These measures also included resuming direct commercial flights. The decision is expected to support tourism, trade and wider exchanges between the two countries
Next Story