Air India
has 11 North American routes: nine to the US and two to Canada. It is still unknown when its long-awaited and much-teased services to Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles (which it served years ago via Frankfurt), and Seattle will be officially announced, let alone elsewhere, such as the often-discussed Boston.
Analyzing Cirium data shows that the Star Alliance member has three in four of the non-stop India-North America seats between October 2024 and February 2025. This number rises to 94% when other Star airlines— 
Air Canada
and 
United Airlines
—are included. However, due to the sheer number of one-stop options via Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia, Air India only has a 13% share of the total passenger market.
Air India’s US and Canada network
Until the end of October, North American flights will be on the carrier’s Triple 7s and 787-8s. It uses ex 
Etihad Airways
328-seat 777-300ERs, along with its own 342-seat 300ERs. Its 200LRs have 238 and 288 seats, the latter being ex 
Delta Air Lines
machines. It also uses the 256-seat 787-8.
Photo: Media_works | Shutterstock
As previously disclosed, its 316-seat A350-900s will appear soon, with two routes seeing the type in the New Year. This is just as well based on this article about a passenger’s “nightmare” first class trip on a clapped-out 777. Air India’s hard product refurbishment and the more widespread introduction of the A350 cannot come soon enough for a better experience, greater competitiveness and market share, and probably higher fares.
- Delhi-Toronto: 10 weekly but double daily from November; 777-300ER
- Delhi-San Francisco: 10 weekly; 777-200LR
- Delhi-Chicago O’Hare: daily; 777-300ER
- Delhi-New York JFK: daily; 777-300ER, shifting to daily A350-900 in November
- Delhi-Vancouver: daily; 777-300ER
- Mumbai-New York JFK: daily; 777-300ER
- Delhi-Newark: five times weekly; 777-200LR/300ER, all A350-900 in January
- Delhi-Washington Dulles: five times weekly; 787-8
- Mumbai-San Francisco: four times weekly; 777-200LR
- Bengaluru-San Francisco: three times weekly; 777-200LR
- Mumbai-Newark: three times weekly; 777-300ER
A look at Air India’s Toronto service
When all airlines are combined, booking data shows that a staggering 760,000 passengers flew between Toronto and Delhi in 2023. They were point-to-point; they did not go elsewhere. In other words, an average of 2,082 people flew between the two cities daily.
In early November, Air India will double its 10 weekly Delhi-Toronto service to double daily (coexisting with Air Canada’s daily service). It benefits from the strict bilateral restriction imposed on Gulf carriers.
What’s the schedule?
Air India’s flights will leave India at 02:55 and 15:15 and arrive in Canada at 07:45 and 19:35, respectively, local time. Returning, they’ll depart Toronto at 00:10 and 11:55, getting home at 00:35+1 and 12:00+1, respectively, local time. All flights will be on 342-seat 777-300ERs (not the ex-Etihad aircraft), Air India’s largest-capacity equipment.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
Capturing more Asian traffic
Air India’s double daily service means it will be able to penetrate the Toronto-Delhi point-to-point market better and capture more of the broader Toronto-India market. Excluding Delhi, the rest of India had around 660,000 Toronto passengers last year.
The higher frequency also means it can carry more traffic to/from Bangkok, Dhaka, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Singapore, etc. It will be among the quickest options between Toronto and Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, both sizable and growing markets, with quick connection times—as little as 75 minutes. Expect aggressive pricing and promotions.