Air India refancies Toronto flights

Government-owned Air India is mulling whether to resume non-stop flights between here and Toronto, Canada, a route it shut down in 2012 due to losses.

According to a senior AI official, it is considering the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner for the route.

“We are looking at new routes where Dreamliners can be inducted. Toronto is one destination we are considering seriously,” said the official. “It’s yet to be decided whether we will fly a Boeing 787 or 777-300 ER. Depending upon feasibility study, we will take a final call but with fuel consumption being lower in the Boeing 787 than other aircraft, induction of this on many of our routes has brought economic benefit.”
 

While a 787 Dreamliner has 18 business class and 238 economy seats, a 777-300 ER has 35 business class and 303 economy seats.

Air Canada operates four weekly non-stop flights between Delhi and Toronto. “Air Canada is operating a 787-9. So, we see good potential in operating the 787,” the official said.

Delhi-Toronto was one of the highest loss-making routes for the airline. Now, however, fuel prices are down and the airline thinks it might be feasible to again ply to Toronto. "Routes that were earlier in losses have turned profitable. Nearly 95 per cent of our routes cover the variable cost of operation,” the official said.

According to an estimate by consultancy firm CAPA, the airline's loss this year will be down to $600 million (about Rs 4,000 crore), lowest in many years.