On October 26, Air Canada will launch an exciting new route connecting Calgary to Delhi via London Heathrow Airport. This service marks the airline’s second-longest one-stop journey globally, following the popular Toronto-Vancouver-Sydney route. Thanks to fifth freedom traffic rights from the UK to India, it becomes Air Canada’s longest operation under this category.
The demand for this route is significant. In the year leading up to July 2024, over 130,000 passengers traveled between Calgary and Delhi, averaging 178 travelers each way daily. Despite being a major market in North America, the region lacked direct or one-stop flights to India. However, that changes with Air Canada’s new daily service using a 298-seat Boeing 787-9 for the winter season.
This one-stop service offers travelers a unique opportunity, covering 7,440 nautical miles (13,779 km) each way. The entire journey, including ground time, takes approximately 20 hours and 45 minutes. Additionally, the return flight faces headwinds, making it slightly longer at 21 hours and 40 minutes.
The flight schedule features AC850 departing from Calgary at 18:30 and arriving in Heathrow the next day at 09:20. Following that, the same flight continues from Heathrow to Delhi, leaving at 12:00 and arriving at 02:45 the following day. The return trip has AC851 departing Delhi at 06:20, landing in Heathrow at 11:20, and then leaving Heathrow for Calgary at 13:25 to arrive at 16:30.
With this addition, Heathrow-Delhi will now feature eight daily flights, enhancing connectivity. This market first experienced such frequency in March 2023. Airlines like Air India and British Airways also offer significant capacity on this route, ensuring travelers have ample choices.
Air Canada’s new service effectively replaces its previous Toronto-Heathrow-Mumbai route. Starting December 1, it will reinstate non-stop flights to Mumbai, tapping into a market with 141,000 roundtrip passengers. Although smaller than the Toronto-Delhi market, it remains a lucrative opportunity for the airline.
With these developments, Air Canada strengthens its global presence, connecting more travelers between Canada and India.
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