Air Canada's first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Air Canada's first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Photo courtesy the airline.

Air Canada to start non-stop Toronto New Delhi Dreamliner flights

Air Canada has announced it will commence a non-stop service between Toronto and New Delhi from November 1, 2015. The flights will be one of the first to be operated by the airline’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft configured in a three class cabin layout; business class with next generation lie-flat seats, premium economy and economy class. The aircraft will feature an enhanced seat-back in-flight entertainment (IFE) system.

On Mondays*, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
Flight AC050 will depart Toronto Pearson at 20:55 arrive New Delhi IGI at 21:15 the next day
Tuesdays, Wednesdays*,Thursdays, and Sundays
Flight AC051 will depart New Delhi IGI at 00:45 arrive Toronto Pearson at 05:00 the same day.

The flights on Monday from Toronto and Wednesday from New Delhi will operate with a smaller Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner instead of the longer 787-9.

Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada detailed his airline’s strategy and rationale for the flights

“Air Canada’s strategy to grow its Toronto Pearson hub and international presence is taking a major step forward with the addition of Delhi to our extensive global network. We will be offering the only non-stop flight from Canada to India using our newest Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which are revolutionizing long-haul air travel. The operating economics of these new aircraft make this service feasible and it will be the first route dedicated to the larger, 787-9 version of this aircraft, which begin entering our fleet in 2015,”

“This service will appeal both to customers visiting and doing business in Delhi, the capital region of India and the fourth most populous urban area in the world, and to those customers making onward connections within India and throughout Southeast Asia on our Star Alliance partner, Air India, or other interline partners,”

India is today the largest international market not served by the airline. Air Canada and fellow Star Alliance member Air India, are also attempting to enter into a code-share alliance over the Pacific (read the story).

Tickets go on sale on December 9, 2014.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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5 comments

  1. Can the 788 fly that much? if yes why doesnt Air India use them to start new/replace existing American routes

  2. What’s the flight duration? This would be an excellent opportunity for AI to offer connections to Singapore, Bangkok & Kuala Lumpur. Are they planning a code share? Those who needs connection to Chennai or Bangalore will have to stay overnight. If they had adjusted the timing, they would have got a connection in couple of hours. Possibly something to think about to tap VFR passengers from South India.

  3. Who’d want this when Emirates offers much better service for the penalty of a few hours?

    AC has knee crunching 31″ pitch and 17′ wide seats. Who wants to do that for 14 hours when Emirates gives you 18″ wide seats and 33″ of pitch for 12 hours?

  4. Worst Experience with ‘Air Canada Flight’ from New Delhi to Toronto.

    This is one of the worst airlines, in which I have traveled so far.

    We had to spend more than 30 Hours at the New Delhi Intl. Airport before the journey because of ‘Air Canada Flight’.

    Earlier Flight Crew Members were saying that there is a small technical problem, after 6 hours waiting, they told that it would fly on next day (after around 16 Hours); but even after that it didn’t fly and Crew Members were trying to accompanied the travelers in other flights. They had no choice, and were offering the worst quality seats/ meal etc.

    For me they had booked another ticket in another Airlines. But that was after 30 hours, I can not delete this incidence from my memory.

    This is worst Airlines, not bcoz of Technical Problem but for mismanagement and not skilled/ experienced Air Canada Delhi Staff.

  5. I guess the AC flight codes are 70/71 and not 50/51…Cheers!!

+OK