Those looking to fly between Canada and India now have a new connection. Air Canada has announced non-stop service connecting Montreal with New Delhi starting October 31st. The new route will further expand the connectivity of India with Eastern Canada after Toronto, which is already served by non-stop flights by Air India and Air Canada.

New route

Air Canada will connect Montreal with New Delhi thrice a week starting October 31st. This will be the third Canadian city with a direct connection to New Delhi after Toronto and Vancouver. The flight schedule looks like this:

Montreal – New Delhi (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday)

Flight no: AC 50

Departure: 20:10

Arrival: 20:00 +1

New Delhi – Montreal (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday)

Flight no: AC 51

Departure: 01:55

Arrival: 06:00

Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada, stated,

“The Canada-India market is an important and strategic one for Air Canada. These additional flights and new route demonstrate Air Canada's anticipation about the promise and growth of the Indian subcontinent– and we also look forward to further strengthening the cultural and business ties between our two countries.”

Air Canada is the only carrier that will offer a direct connection between Montreal and Delhi. Photo: GCmap.com

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Soaring demand

Canada is home to a significant Indian population, and air traffic has always been quite heavy between the two countries. After months of suspension, direct flights by Air India and Air Canada connecting Delhi with Toronto and Vancouver resumed recently.

Air Canada, however, is the only airline with a direct service to Delhi out of Montreal. The timing of the new route is also quite strategic, with flights starting just a few days before the major Indian festival of Diwali. The carrier is likely to benefit from the huge festive rush with passengers from both countries crossing borders to visit family and friends.

The new route is expected to be popular, being launched during the festive season in India. Photo: Air Canada

To further consolidate its market share between the two nations, Air Canada is also increasing frequency to Delhi from Toronto to ten flights per week beginning October 15th.

Mark Galardo added,

“Today's announcement also confirms Air Canada's commitment to growing its main hubs of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, with convenient non-stop service to India from each hub… We continue to focus on the growing visiting friends and relatives market and this capacity expansion is a response to increasing demand.”

Product on offer

The carrier will deploy the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on this new route, offering 298 seats across three cabins: Air Canada Signature Class, premium economy and economy class. The business class section (branded as Signature Class) will have 30 seats, with 21 and 247 seats in premium economy and economy class, respectively.

The product on offer looks quite nice for the 14+ hour flight. Simple Flying has already reviewed Air Canada’s Signature Class, which you can check here.

Air Canada 787 Signature Class
Air Canada’s business class is arranged in a standard 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration. Photo: Air Canada

Here's what a one-way fare for the flight out of Montreal looks like when booked on the company website two weeks in advance:

Economy: US $897

Premium economy: US $1432

Business class: US $2309

As more and more flyers opt for direct flights during the pandemic, this new route is also likely to have many takers.