China Eastern Airlines has resumed its direct flight service between Kolkata and Kunming, marking a renewed push to strengthen aviation connectivity between India and China amid gradually improving travel demand.
The first flight on the reinstated route operated on April 19, with the airline scheduling six weekly services in both directions. The move follows the relaunch of its Delhi–Shanghai service last year and is part of a broader strategy to rebuild its India network.
The service will operate with both business and economy class cabins. Flight MU556 departs Kolkata at 01:10 and arrives in Kunming at 06:20 on six days of the week, while the return service, MU555, leaves Kunming at 23:55 and reaches Kolkata shortly after midnight the next day, also operating six times weekly.
The inaugural was marked by a ceremonial event at Kolkata airport attended by senior airline executives, diplomats from the Chinese consulate, and officials from the Airports Authority of India and immigration authorities.
Advertisement
The airline said the route is expected to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Kunming, a key gateway in southwest China, offers onward connectivity to major Chinese cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
In India, the airline’s operations are supported by InterGlobe Air Transport, its long-standing general sales agent responsible for commercial and operational functions.
Industry observers say the resumption is significant as direct connectivity between India and China remains limited compared to pre-pandemic levels, with airlines cautiously rebuilding capacity amid evolving bilateral dynamics.
Looking ahead, China Eastern plans to expand further in the Indian market, with routes such as Mumbai–Shanghai under consideration, aimed at offering Indian travelers’ wider access to destinations across China and beyond.
