Six years later, Air India is flying to Shanghai again: Here’s what travellers need to know

Air India will resume its non-stop flights between Delhi and Shanghai from 1 February 2026, restoring a key international route that has remained suspended since early 2020. The airline halted operations to mainland China at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the return to Shanghai follows recent diplomatic engagement between India and China that enabled the reinstatement of scheduled air services.

According to Air India, the restored route will operate four times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays—using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The aircraft is configured with 18 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 238 seats in Economy Class, which the airline says will provide a comfortable long-haul travel experience for passengers. With the relaunch, Shanghai becomes the 48th international destination served by the Air India group, which currently carries more international passengers than any other airline based in India. The airline has also stated that it intends to begin non-stop services between Mumbai and Shanghai later in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Air India originally launched direct flights to mainland China in October 2000. The resumption of services is being positioned as important for strengthening economic, commercial and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The airline has noted that the link will support travel related to business, trade, healthcare, education and tourism, and will help reconnect two major Asian economic hubs.

The flight schedule released by the airline shows that AI352 will depart Delhi at 12:00 PM and land in Shanghai at 8:20 PM local time. The return service, AI351, will depart Shanghai at 10:00 PM and arrive in Delhi at 3:15 AM the following day. All timings are shown in local time, and the arrival next day is marked with “+1.” The four-day-a-week frequency will add significant long-haul capacity between the two cities after years of restricted air movement.

Air India has said that the reopening of the route is expected to facilitate increasing demand from sectors such as pharmaceuticals, technology, manufacturing and education, with the airline anticipating a rise in two-way passenger movement as economic activity continues to normalise. The restoration of flights is also expected to assist travellers requiring access to specialised medical care, higher education institutions and cross-border corporate operations.

Bookings for the Delhi–Shanghai flights are being progressively rolled out across Air India’s sales channels, including its official website, mobile application, call centres, airport ticketing offices and authorised travel agents worldwide. The airline has indicated that additional seats will be made available in phases as systems are updated and demand is assessed.

The carrier’s return to Shanghai marks a significant step in re-establishing pre-pandemic connectivity between India and China and is expected to play a role in strengthening travel flows and bilateral engagement in the coming year.