Dhaka, May 3 -- Indian carrier IndiGo has started a dedicated freighter service between Kolkata and Kunming, marking a new step in expanding air cargo connectivity between India and China.

The new route, operated three times a week using an Airbus A321 freighter, links Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata with Kunming Changshui International Airport in southwest China. Flights began on 20 April.

The inaugural service carried around nine tons of seafood from India on the inbound leg, while the return flight transported more than 21 tons of general cargo from China, highlighting early two-way trade activity.

Airline officials said, the route is aimed at boosting logistics capacity between eastern India and China's ...