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Air India connects Toronto and Vancouver with India. This article brings together Canadian route announcements and the 2026-2027 schedule. Its August 1, 2026 release announced seasonal Mumbai–Toronto service and described the rollout of new Boeing 787-9 aircraft on Delhi–Toronto.
Before booking, read our Air India guide from Canada: cabins, baggage, Maharaja Club, Aeroplan and credit cards.
With Air India being part of the Star Alliance network, Canadians will be able to book travel on these new planes using Aeroplan points, making this addition even more welcome to the international travel landscape.
The winter announcement covers Toronto–Delhi, Toronto–Mumbai and Vancouver–Delhi. The following sections separate the planned winter schedule from the original 787-9 deployment details.
Key Details
Air India’s improved route offerings between Toronto (YYZ) and Delhi (DEL) will launch on August 1, 2026. The route is designed to improve the flight time between the two cities by eliminating the need for a fuelling stop in Vienna. However, Air India does note that « the removal of the fuel stop is subject to available airspaces, » so the full implementation of the non-stop routes may be more of a staggered roll out.
That said, here are the key details for the launch:
- Daily flights: The new 787-9s will service the Toronto–Delhi route 7 days a week, improving on the previous schedule of 5 days a week.
- Non-stop flights: The new flights will be non-stop, shortening travel time to 16–17.5 hours each way. This is compared to the 20-hour travel time for the previous (and ongoing) Delhi to Toronto route (AI 190 on Air India’s 777-300ER) that involves a refuelling stop in Vienna.
- New equipment: the daily service, totalling 7 flights per week, is announced on the 787-9. The 3 additional weekly frequencies initially use the 777-300ER before their planned switch to the 787-9 in January 2027.
The new Air India flights are as follows:
- AI 187: Delhi (DEL) to Toronto (YYZ), departing at 0145 and arriving at 0930
- AI 188: Toronto (YYZ) to Delhi (DEL), departing at 1230 and arriving at 1405 (next day)
Air India’s New 787-9 Aircraft
Air India’s new 787-9 aircraft has a three-cabin configuration which include 238 economy class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 30 business class seats.
As part of Air India’s ongoing overhaul, the new planes also include a refreshed onboard experience, with new menus, over 3,000 hours of available entertainment, improved seating, curated amenities in business class, and more.
Toronto–Mumbai and the winter 2026-2027 schedule
Air India’s August 1, 2026 release announced seasonal nonstop Mumbai–Toronto service from October 25, 2026 to March 26, 2027, 3 times a week in each direction. The upgraded Boeing 777-300ER has First, Business and Economy cabins.
| Route | Weekly frequency | Announced product |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi–Toronto | 10 | 7 weekly 787-9 flights; 3 initial 777-300ER flights switching to 787-9 in January 2027 |
| Mumbai–Toronto | 3 | Seasonal upgraded 777-300ER |
| Delhi–Vancouver | 7 | Check the aircraft when booking |
| Total India → Canada | 20 | Winter 2026-2027 |
January 2027 concerns the aircraft transition on 3 Toronto–Delhi frequencies, rather than the start of the 10 weekly flights. The airline announced 4,400 additional monthly seats between India and Canada and 71% more premium seats to Toronto; this does not guarantee award availability.
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Announced days | Announced aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI187 | Delhi → Toronto | 01:45 | 09:30 | Daily | 787-9 |
| AI188 | Toronto → Delhi | 12:30 | 14:05 (+1) | Daily | 787-9 |
| AI189 | Delhi → Toronto | 10:25 | 21:35 | Wed, Fri, Sun | 777-300ER, then 787-9 in January 2027 |
| AI190 | Toronto → Delhi | 00:35 | 01:50 (+1) | Thu, Sat, Mon | 777-300ER, then 787-9 in January 2027 |
| AI193 | Mumbai → Toronto | 04:00 | 10:00 | Wed, Fri, Sun | Upgraded 777-300ER |
| AI192 | Toronto → Mumbai | 12:30 | 14:10 (+1) | Wed, Fri, Sun | Upgraded 777-300ER |
Book with Aeroplan
Conveniently for Canadians, Air India is part of the Star Alliance network (alongside Air Canada and 24 other airlines), so Aeroplan members can use their accumulated points to book award flights on the new non-stop routes.
As a partner airline, Air India redemptions are priced based on a fixed distance-based chart and are therefore not subject to the dynamic pricing that Aeroplan imposes on Air Canada’s award flights. Given this, the redemption structure is actually quite straightforward.
The points required depend on the distance, region and itinerary under Aeroplan’s applicable partner chart. Search the flight in Aeroplan to see the full points, tax and fee total; the old amounts previously shown here are not a guaranteed price.
Check award availability for your travel date. A seat sold for cash by Air India, or an announced capacity increase, does not guarantee an Aeroplan award seat.
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Bottom Line
Air India’s winter 2026-2027 announcement covers Toronto–Delhi, Toronto–Mumbai and Vancouver–Delhi, totalling 20 weekly departures from India to Canada. Check the aircraft and times for each booking.
The new and improved route, aircraft, and flight experiences can be experienced by Canadians via cash fares or by redeeming Aeroplan points, thanks to Air India’s membership in the Star Alliance network.
We’ve written a great guide to travelling in North India, so check those out if you’re looking for inspiration, and of course, we always recommend our guide to the best credit cards in Canada to help you earn rewards, save money, and improve your travels in every way.
Guides and booking from Canada
Read our Air India guide, Toronto Pearson airport guide and North India travel guide. For points, read our Aeroplan guide and compare the rules with Maharaja Club as described in the airline guide.
For tickets, view Air India flights. This is an affiliate link: Milesopedia may earn a commission. Check your dates, operating carrier, baggage and total price before confirming.
Compare ways to earn rewards in our best credit cards guide and subscribe to the Milesopedia newsletter.
FAQs
When does Air India launch its new direct Toronto–Delhi routes?
The initial Delhi–Toronto Boeing 787-9 deployment is described in Air India’s August 1, 2026 release. The winter program calls for 10 weekly flights, with all of them progressively switching to the 787-9 in January 2027.
How long are Air India’s direct flights between Toronto and Delhi?
Air India’s direct flights between Toronto and Delhi are between 16 and 17.5 hours depending on the direction of travel and the weather during the trip.
Can I book an Air India flight with Aeroplan points?
Yes, you can book Air India flights with Aeroplan points. The airlines are partners via the Star Alliance network, making it possible to redeem Aeroplan points for Air India’s new direct flights between Toronto and Delhi, and for the rest of Air India’s destination network.
How many Aeroplan points do I need to fly Air India between Toronto and Delhi?
Check Aeroplan’s partner chart and booking tool for your exact itinerary. The price depends on the region, distance and connections, with applicable taxes and fees shown before confirmation.
Does Air India’s new 787-9 have a premium economy cabin?
The aircraft described has 28 Premium Economy, 30 Business and 238 Economy seats. Check the cabin sold and award availability in Aeroplan; a seat on the aircraft does not guarantee that it can be booked with points.
Do Aeroplan bookings on Air India include fuel surcharges?
Check Aeroplan’s displayed breakdown for the taxes and fees on your partner booking. Compare the full cash amount as well as the points required.
To compare services from Canada, also see the flight programs for Air Canada, Etihad Airways.