China Eastern Airlines has re-launched nonstop flights between Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Delhi (DEL), operating three times a week with Airbus A330-200 aircraft from 9 November. The route had been suspended since early 2020. The 14 November announcement—made in partnership with long-time Indian GSA InterGlobe Air Transport—signals renewed confidence in Sino-Indian passenger and cargo demand.
Schedules see flight MU563 departing Shanghai at 12:50 pm, arriving Delhi at 5:45 pm local time, while the return MU564 leaves Delhi at 7:55 pm, reaching Shanghai at 4:10 am next day. The timing offers same-day onward connections at both hubs: to East China manufacturing centres for Indian executives, and to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad for Chinese tech suppliers via Indian domestic partners.
![China Eastern restores Shanghai–Delhi direct service, strengthening China–India business corridor]()
The resumption is strategically important for multinationals balancing supply-chain resilience with travel-cost efficiency. Before the pandemic, more than 780,000 two-way passengers used direct China-India services annually; restoring capacity eases pressure on fares that had spiked 40-60 % on one-stop itineraries through Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.
India recently overtook South Korea as China’s fourth-largest trading partner, and demand for face-to-face meetings on electric-vehicle components, pharmaceuticals and IT services is rebounding. Forwarders also expect the belly-hold cargo to support e-commerce shipments ahead of Singles Day and Diwali peaks.
Travel-policy teams should note that India’s e-visa portal is again issuing 30-day business visas for Chinese nationals, while China’s multi-entry M visas for Indian traders remain valid if previously issued. Travelers must still complete China’s health declaration via the “Customs Pocket Declaration” app before return flights.
Schedules see flight MU563 departing Shanghai at 12:50 pm, arriving Delhi at 5:45 pm local time, while the return MU564 leaves Delhi at 7:55 pm, reaching Shanghai at 4:10 am next day. The timing offers same-day onward connections at both hubs: to East China manufacturing centres for Indian executives, and to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad for Chinese tech suppliers via Indian domestic partners.
The resumption is strategically important for multinationals balancing supply-chain resilience with travel-cost efficiency. Before the pandemic, more than 780,000 two-way passengers used direct China-India services annually; restoring capacity eases pressure on fares that had spiked 40-60 % on one-stop itineraries through Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.
India recently overtook South Korea as China’s fourth-largest trading partner, and demand for face-to-face meetings on electric-vehicle components, pharmaceuticals and IT services is rebounding. Forwarders also expect the belly-hold cargo to support e-commerce shipments ahead of Singles Day and Diwali peaks.
Travel-policy teams should note that India’s e-visa portal is again issuing 30-day business visas for Chinese nationals, while China’s multi-entry M visas for Indian traders remain valid if previously issued. Travelers must still complete China’s health declaration via the “Customs Pocket Declaration” app before return flights.
