Air Canada announced last week that it was resuming flights between Toronto and Delhi from August 15. The carrier had suspended the route due to the coronavirus pandemic, but as Canada is added to the list of countries that have formed "air bubbles" with India, the airline is now taking bookings for flights to the Indian city.

Air Canada opens Delhi route

According to a report by Outlook India today, Air Canada has reopened its Toronto to Delhi route and will operate three flights per week between the cities. The flights will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from August 15 until the end of the month. Subject to government approval, the airline will increase the frequency to four flights per week from September.

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Air Canada announced the resumption of flights in a Twitter post on August 10.

The move comes as Canada becomes the latest country to form a so-called 'bubble' with India, alongside France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. India has also agreed to bilateral travel arrangements with seven other countries, including the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives. The Outlook India report says,

"According to the Director-General of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), any Indian holding any kind of valid visa can now travel to Canada."

Stranded citizens can get home

Air Canada's Delhi service will enable Indian and Canadian citizens who have been stranded by the travel restrictions to get home. Travelers will be subject to compulsory COVID-19 testing as well as following quarantine protocols in India and Canada.

The Canadian flag carrier is focused on ensuring the safety of its passengers with industry-leading health measures, including the implementation of new biosecurity standards and enhanced in-flight preventative procedures.

The airline issues passengers with care kits with a face mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and drinking water.

Air Canada looks to the future

On August 17, Air Canada released its sustainability report entitled "Citizens of the World," outlining its overall progress as well as moving forward with post-pandemic operations. In the report, Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Communications Officer at Air Canada said,

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our employees, customers, communities and other stakeholders. But we must not lose sight of all the great achievements of the last decade. I truly believe that our resilience, strong culture and engagement during these unprecedented times will serve us well for years to come. We will overcome these challenges so that we continue to serve local communities and contribute to the social and economic health of our country."

Air Canada announced its financial results at the start of the month, revealing that it had lost C$1.555bn (US$1.16bn) during the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, the carrier's president and CEO said that orders for new aircraft, particularly the 737 MAX, could be canceled. He blamed travel restrictions and a lack of government support for possible cost-cutting measures.

However, as it begins to emerge from the crisis, Air Canada is actively promoting flights to the United States.

Will you be taking advantage of Air Canada's flights to India? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.