Air India now operates its brand-new Boeing 787-9 every day between Toronto and Delhi.
The airline hosted industry at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Sept. 23 for a tour of the new 787-9 and its three-class cabin.
Air India has served Canada for more than four decades and currently operates 17 weekly flights between the two countries: 10 between Toronto and Delhi and seven between Vancouver and Delhi.
Beginning Oct. 25, the airline will add seasonal nonstop flights between Toronto and Mumbai. Air India says the route will add nearly 2,000 seats per week between Canada and India and increase its premium seat capacity from Toronto by 71% this winter.
Air India at YYZ (Photo Credit: Lauryn Bayley)
New 787-9 Arrives in Toronto
Air India began operating its new Boeing 787-9 on the Toronto-Delhi route on Aug. 1. The aircraft is now used on seven of the airline's 10 weekly flights on the route.
The remaining three weekly services are currently operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, but Air India plans to transition those flights to the 787-9 beginning in January 2027 as additional aircraft enter its fleet.
That will mean all Air India flights between Toronto and Delhi are expected to feature new or significantly upgraded cabin interiors from January.
The new 787-9 has 30 Business Class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, each offering direct aisle access, a fully flat bed of up to 79 inches and a 17-inch 4K touchscreen. The suites also have sliding privacy doors, although Air India says those doors are currently unavailable for passenger use pending regulatory approval. All other suite features remain operational.
Premium Economy includes 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, with 38 inches of pitch, seven inches of recline, adjustable calf and leg rests and 13.3-inch screens.
Economy has 238 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, with 31 to 32 inches of pitch and 11.6-inch screens. Currently, 18 Economy seats are blocked from sale and use while Air India works with the manufacturer and regulator to resolve a certification matter. The airline says the RECARO CL3710 seat itself is fully certified and used by airlines worldwide.
The restriction applies only to the new 787-9.
Air India worked with JPA Design on the aircraft interiors, including the seats, galleys, lavatories and other cabin elements. The aircraft also offers more than 3,000 hours of inflight entertainment.
Air India now operates its new Boeing 787-9 daily between Toronto and Delhi. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Bayley)
Connections Beyond Toronto and Vancouver
Air India is also using partnerships with Canadian carriers to extend its network beyond its Canadian gateways.
Through its codeshare with Air Canada, Air India places its "AI" code on Air Canada-operated flights from Vancouver to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montréal and Halifax, as well as flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver and Calgary.
Air Canada customers can connect through Delhi to Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kochi, as well as access Delhi and Mumbai through London Heathrow.
Air India also has an interline agreement with WestJet, allowing passengers to combine flights operated by the two airlines on a single ticket with coordinated baggage handling.
The agreement provides Air India passengers arriving in Toronto or Vancouver with onward WestJet connections to 17 Canadian cities, including Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, Kelowna, St. John's and Victoria, as well as 14 U.S. destinations.
Beyond Canada, Air India says its Delhi hub provides connections for Canadian passengers travelling onward to destinations across India, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia.
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