Kolkata, March 2 IndiGo announced on Monday the launch of daily direct flights between Kolkata and Shanghai, starting March 29, aimed at boosting connectivity, trade, and tourism between eastern India and China.
The service will be operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said in a statement.
The flight will depart from Kolkata at 21:45 hours and arrive in Shanghai at 04:40 hours the following day, while the return flight will leave Shanghai at 05:40 hours and arrive in Kolkata at 09:05 hours, it said.
IndiGo's global head of sales, Vinay Malhotra, said that the new route reflects the airline's focus on expanding international connectivity from India to key global destinations.
He said that the addition of Shanghai to the network, along with the recently reinstated service to Guangzhou, will help facilitate bilateral trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two countries.
The airline said that the direct link is expected to support growing exports from West Bengal to China, including marine products, leather goods, and specialized textiles.