IndiGo to offer direct flights between Kolkata and Shanghai

India's largest passenger airline, IndiGo, will operate daily direct flights between Kolkata and Shanghai beginning March 29, expanding air links between India and China as travel demand and trade flows recover.

The Airbus A320 aircraft will be used for the service. The move follows the recent reinstatement of IndiGo's flights to Guangzhou, further strengthening its footprint in the Chinese market.

Kolkata, the capital of India's eastern state of West Bengal, is a major commercial and cultural center. Long regarded as a gateway to eastern and northeastern India, the city has a diversified economy spanning manufacturing, services, and trade, and serves as an important hub for regional business and outbound travel.

IndiGo said growing Indian exports to China — including marine products, leather goods, and specialized textiles — were supporting demand for direct air connectivity.

"We are pleased to announce the launch of our new daily, direct connectivity between Kolkata and Shanghai, in addition to our flights to Guangzhou," Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo's global head of sales, said. "This development underscores our commitment to connecting India to key global destinations."

He said the Shanghai service would help facilitate bilateral trade, boost tourism, and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The addition comes as airlines in both countries gradually rebuild networks after years of limited connectivity, with carriers seeking to tap pent-up business and leisure travel between the world's two most populous nations.

Tickets for the new route are available through the airline's website, mobile app, and authorized travel partners.