China Eastern Airlines new Kolkata-Kunming, Delhi-Shanghai flights planned

China Eastern Airlines, based in Shanghai, China, plans to increase the number of flights between Kolkata in eastern India and Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in China, from June 2009.
China Eastern Airlines said it was also planning to jack up the frequency of flights on the Delhi-Shanghai route from the current three flights a week.

Li Ji, general manager (Kolkata operations) of China Eastern Airlines, told reporters in Kolkata that the carrier would operate 7 flights from Kolkata to Kunming a week from June 2009.

Currently, China Eastern Airlines operates 4 flights a week on the Kolkata-Kunming route.

China Eastern Airlines started direct flights between Kolkata and Kunming, a major tourist destination in China, in October 2007.

Li Ji told reporters that China Eastern Airlines, one of China’s leading state-owned carriers, decided to increase the number of services to India as a part of its efforts to attract tourism in Kunming.

The Kolkata-Kunming flights have 100% occupancy at present, Li Ji added.

Kunming, in south-western China, serves as not only the capital of Yunnan province but also as a favourite tourist destination with its lush, natural landscape.

According to aviation experts in India, with both India and China eager to enhance interconnectivity, Kunming, in effect, is getting to be China’s gateway to India.