Representative image. Photo: Photo by Steve Knight, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Air India has gone non-stop on its Delhi-Toronto route from August 1, deploying a new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and dropping the earlier fuel stop at Vienna.
The switch is expected to shave around three hours off the journey, cutting flying time to about 17 hours from close to 20 hours with the fuel stop.
The return leg from Toronto to Delhi will remain non-stop, with flying time of up to 16 hours.
The airline is also raising frequency on the route from five weekly flights to a daily service from August 1.
The new 787-9 deployed features 30 private suites in Business Class, 28 Premium Economy seats and 238 Economy seats, with cabins combining contemporary design and Indian-inspired aesthetics.
Air India said removal of the fuel stop is subject to available airspace along the route.
The move is part of the carrier’s wider fleet modernisation push, which has introduced new aircraft and refreshed cabins across several international routes in recent years.
Vienna had served as the fuel stop for the Delhi-Toronto sector for several years before this change.
Air India also reinstated its codeshare tie-up with Air Canada in December 2025, five years after it was suspended during the pandemic, giving its customers access to additional Canadian destinations beyond its own gateways.
Each seat on the new aircraft is fitted with Thales’ AVANT Up in-flight entertainment system, offering high-definition screens, Bluetooth headphone pairing and modern charging options.
Toronto is one of several North American cities Air India serves directly, alongside destinations such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Vancouver.
Vienna had served as the enroute fuel stop for the Delhi-Toronto sector for several years, adding significantly to overall journey time for passengers travelling between India and Canada.
Air India has been steadily inducting new aircraft and refreshing cabin products across its international network as part of a broader fleet modernisation programme in recent years.
(Image: Photo by Steve Knight, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)
