Non-stop Delhi-Toronto Air Canada flights from Oct 18

After a gap of four years, Air Canada on Tuesday announced resumption of its services with the launch of a non-stop daily service between Delhi and Toronto from October 18, which would provide convenient connections to the United States with the Canadian city having scores of daily flights to New York, Washington, Chicago and other American cities.

Announcing this in New Delhi, Air Canada's general manager (India) Ratindra Jang told reporters that this 15-hour flight would do away with the inconvenience of five-hour stopovers and change of flights at European destinations and would 'suit business travellers destined to North America the best.'

Toronto has 12 direct flights a day to New York, ten each to Washington and Chicago as also to Dallas.

The Canadian carrier, a member of the Star Alliance, would operate a wide-bodied Airbus A-340-300 on the Delhi-Toronto sector. The airline had stopped its services from India in 1999.

He said the timing of the launch of this daily service was aimed at attracting the Diwali holidayers, primarily from Punjab.

Jang said the airline would launch a roadshow in the remote areas of Punjab soon to educate the people about the benefits of a non-stop flight to Canada which has a considerable Sikh population.

To questions on Air Canada's bilateral links with Air-India, Jang said the two carriers were working out a code-sharing arrangement, especially on the Hong Kong, Vancouver sector.

The Indian carrier had already been given the contract for conducting ground-handling and check-in facilities for it, he said.

The Canadian airline would be using its bilateral rights to fly 2100 seats a week, Jang said, adding that he expected about 230 seats per flight.

He said the flights coming to India from Canada were already booked and hoped that a similar situation would arise for the outbound services from Delhi.

The Air Canada GM said the 'executive first class' offered world-class services, with an in-flight restaurant, entertainment system, spacious seats and personalised services.

He claimed the 'business class' offered 'wider and near-flat bed seats, better circulation areas, good cuisine and a tranquil environment.'