IndiGo Launches Daily Kolkata-Shanghai Direct Flight

IndiGo has launched a daily direct flight connecting Kolkata and Shanghai, making travel between India’s eastern gateway and China’s commercial hub faster and more convenient. The service was inaugurated on Sunday, March 29, by Consul General Pratik Mathur, marking Kolkata as the second Indian metro after New Delhi to have a direct flight to Shanghai.

The Consulate General of India in Shanghai highlighted the growing confidence in bilateral ties, tweeting, “Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India are enhancing connectivity between Shanghai and Indian metros, reflecting the resurgent economic links in the region.”

The Tagore Connection

This route carries historical significance, as Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore visited Shanghai three times in 1913, 1923, and 1931. The city honors his legacy with two busts commemorating the poet. Launching the service ahead of Rabindra Jayanti in April reinforces the cultural and people-to-people ties between Eastern India and Eastern China.

Flight Schedule & Connectivity

• Kolkata to Shanghai: Departs 9:45 PM → Arrives 4:40 AM next day
• Shanghai to Kolkata: Departs 5:40 AM → Arrives 9:05 PM

The flight operates on the Airbus A320neo and enables seamless connections for passengers from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, and Bhubaneswar, eliminating multiple stopovers.

IndiGo now operates 21 weekly flights to mainland China, complementing existing services to Guangzhou, and further enhancing trade, tourism, and economic growth in India’s North-Eastern region.

Strategic Impact & Industry Perspective

Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo Head of Global Sales, said, “The Kolkata-Shanghai direct flight strengthens connectivity, facilitates business and leisure travel, and enhances cultural and economic exchange between India and China. We remain committed to expanding strategic air links to key global markets.”

The next target for international expansion is Mumbai, following the resumption of India-China flights in October 2025 after a five-year pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and border tensions in Eastern Ladakh.