China Eastern Airlines will resume Shanghai-Delhi flights from November 9, the airline's website showed on Saturday, as China and India restore direct air links after a five-year freeze.

The flights will operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the airline's online ticket sales platform showed.

The resumption comes after India's foreign ministry said this month that commercial flights between the two neighbouring countries would restart after a five-year freeze.

The announcement followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to China in over seven years, for a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation regional security bloc. The two sides discussed ways to improve trade ties.

India's largest carrier, IndiGo, has announced it would start daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou.

State-backed Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport said at the time of the IndiGo announcement that it would encourage airlines to open more direct routes, such as between Guangzhou and Delhi. (Reuters)