It was recently learned from the Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group Co., Ltd. (YAIIG) that, with the joint efforts of YAIIG and China Eastern Airlines Yunnan Branch, China Eastern Airlines plans to resume the Kunming-Kolkata route on April 18, marking a major breakthrough in the improvement of Yunnan's air route network to South Asia.

The Kunming-Kolkata route is one of the important air routes in the China–India aviation market. The direct flight from Kunming Airport to Kolkata, the largest city in eastern India, takes only about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Boasting geographical proximity and convenient transportation, Kunming Airport has become the most accessible gateway hub connecting China with eastern India.

The route will be operated by China Eastern Airlines, with six weekly flights from Kunming to Kolkata (Flight MU555, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) and from Kolkata to Kunming (Flight MU556, operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays). Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and the most important city in eastern India, is also the hometown of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The resumption of this route will provide a more convenient air corridor for economic and trade cooperation, cultural tourism, and personnel exchanges between the two regions. Furthermore, Yunnan Airport Group will continue to collaborate with airlines to optimize transfer service procedures. Leveraging policies such as the 240-hour visa-free transit and 24-hour visa-free transit, the Group aims to offer travelers a smoother travel experience. This will allow more passengers arriving in Kunming not only to enjoy convenient transfer services but also to efficiently connect to 141 domestic and 38 international destinations via Kunming Airport's well-developed route network.

The resumption of the Kunming-Kolkata route will further improve Yunnan's air route network to South Asia, injecting new impetus into the construction of Yunnan as a radiation center facing South and Southeast Asia.

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Jennifer, Flynn)