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China Eastern Relaunches Key India Route in 2026
8 Mar
Summary
- China Eastern Airlines resumes Kolkata-Kunming flights in April 2026.
- Services suspended six years ago due to the pandemic.
- Resumption expected to significantly boost trade and tourism.
China Eastern Airlines is poised to re-establish its direct flight service between Kunming and Kolkata starting April 2026. This significant development marks the return of a route that was suspended six years ago in March 2020, coinciding with the global COVID-19 pandemic. The airline had been the first to connect Kolkata and Kunming back in October 2007, with the route quickly becoming popular among businessmen and traders.
The relaunch follows China Eastern Airlines' recent resumption of flights to Delhi in November 2025, a move seen as a positive step in India-China diplomatic and trade engagement. Industry experts anticipate that the direct flights will substantially enhance business connectivity and make China a more accessible destination for Indian leisure and business travelers. It is also expected to attract Chinese tourists, capitalizing on their significant global travel presence.
This initiative by China Eastern Airlines is also encouraging Kolkata airport authorities to pursue the return of other carriers that previously operated to China before the pandemic, such as Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon on the Kolkata-Hong Kong route.
