To facilitate growing economic engagements between Canada and India, Air Canada has inaugurated a direct flight between Delhi and Vancouver which would operate thrice a week, thus making Air Canada the only carrier to offer a direct non-stop service between the two countries. Initially planned to be a seasonal flight — to operate till April next year — the direct connection would bring a big relief to the large Indian diaspora (settled in Canada), especially the elderly ones as it saves them from the hassles involved in changeover. “This would be the fastest connection between the two cities which would save up to five hours compared to the other best connections currently available,” says Kevin Howlett, Senior Vice President, Regional Markets & Government Relations, Air Canada. Plus a good connectivity onwards into a number of American cities, with getting the US immigration formalities completed in Toronto or Vancouver itself, would be as added advantage for travelers.
The significant amount of mutual investments happening between Indo-Canadian businesses topped by the growing academic exchange that has trebled in recent years have presented (travel) opportunities to Air Canada to expand its base into India. “Access to the Indian market was the missing link in the ongoing global expansion strategy that Air Canada has been pursuing since 2012,” explains Howlett. “And the acquisition of 787 aircraft has enabled us to enter the Indian market and do so on a economically viable basis.” Though the Indo-Canadian cultural and community relations have existed for long, trade and investments in new and promising opportunities have triggered Air Canada’s commitments to establish more and frequent connections between the two countries.
A year ago, it introduced the Delhi-Toronto direct flight which is scheduled to become a daily service from next month.
From July next year, it plans to introduce another direct connection between Mumbai- Toronto. Analysts feel that the moment good connectivity is established between the two cities, passenger
Direct flight to Vancouver would cater to three price points namely business, premium economy and the economy class.