Air India makes Delhi-Toronto route non-stop with new 787-9

Air India has made its Delhi-Toronto route non-stop from August 1, deploying a new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and dropping the enroute fuel stop at Vienna.

The move is expected to cut around three hours off the journey, bringing flying time down to about 17 hours from close to 20 hours with the earlier fuel stop.

The return Toronto-Delhi leg will continue as a non-stop service, with a flying time of up to 16 hours.

Air India is also increasing frequency on the route from five weekly flights to a daily service starting August 1.

The new Boeing 787-9 on the route carries 30 private suites in Business Class, 28 Premium Economy seats and 238 Economy seats, with cabin interiors combining contemporary design with Indian-inspired aesthetics.

Air India said the removal of the fuel stop remains subject to available airspace along the route.

The upgrade is part of the airline’s broader fleet modernisation drive, which has brought new aircraft and refreshed cabins to several of its international routes.

Vienna had been the refuelling stop for the Delhi-Toronto sector for several years prior to this change.

The airline separately restored its codeshare agreement with Air Canada in December 2025, five years after the tie-up was suspended during the pandemic, extending Air India customers’ reach to further Canadian cities beyond its own network.

Every seat on the new aircraft comes equipped with Thales’ AVANT Up in-flight entertainment system, including high-definition screens, Bluetooth headphone pairing and updated charging points.

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.

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.

(Image: Photo by Steve Knight, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)