Air India takes off with new aircraft from YYZ

Air India showcased a new plane to a Toronto delegation Tuesday that was designed specifically for the carrier and is now carrying people between the Ontario capital and Delhi.

The Boeing 787-9 — which the airline began using on the Toronto route in August — has numerous Indian features, among them providing Bollywood movies in the entertainment system, Indian fabrics, Indian food for those who wish it, and even an image of a woman wearing a sari on lighting that notifies passengers when airplane bathrooms are occupied.

The airplane has several classes of service, including Business and Premium Economy, with the latter having 28 seats, each with a 38-inch pitch.

Passengers will find 2,000 hours of entertainment on the entertainment systems and 10 different mood lighting settings throughout the plane.

Campbell Wilson, Air India’s chief executive officer & managing director, has publicly applauded the arrival of new aircraft, one of hundreds being added to the Air India fleet.

The arrival of this new Boeing 787-9, the first production widebody from the 470 aircraft-strong order signed three years ago, is a significant moment in Air India s 5-year Vihaan.AI transformation program,” he said. “Though nearly 100 new and leased aircraft have already joined the Air India group s fleet since privatization, this is the first to be designed by and for Air India. It underscores Air India’s commitment to delivering a world-class physical product and inflight entertainment experience to complement the warm Indian hospitality already delivered by our crew.

The new cabin interiors on this aircraft will soon become the standard across our entire Boeing 787 fleet as, in addition to 19 more production aircraft, all 26 of Air India s existing Boeing 787-8 aircraft are being retrofitted with the same new cabin interiors and entertainment systems. The retrofit program is well underway, with the first upgraded aircraft due to return to service in the coming weeks and the remainder of the fleet by mid-2027.

Meanwhile, Air India says it has a very visible presence in Canadian skies, with the airline having 10 Toronto-Delhi flights a week, and 7 between Vancouver and Delhi.

The Star Alliance member — which was privatized several years ago — will begin three-times-a-week Toronto-Mumbai service Oct. 25, making it the only carrier operating direct flights between the two cities.

The service will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with upgraded cabin interiors, featuring 8 First Class suites with privacy sliding doors, 40 flat beds in Business Class, and 280 seats in Economy. Travellers between Mumbai and Toronto will also enjoy WiFi internet connectivity on board the upgraded B777-300ER aircraft.

Through Air India’s hubs at Mumbai and Delhi, customers travelling to or from Canada can connect seamlessly to other Indian destinations, including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ludhiana, and Vadodara.

“Canada is one of Air India’s most important international markets, with deep people-to-people connections driving strong demand for travel, particularly during the festive and holiday season,” observed Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s chief commercial officer.

Aggarwal continued: “The launch of our seasonal Mumbai-Toronto service this winter will provide travellers more choice and convenience at a time when many are travelling to reunite with family and friends. At the same time, we are also progressively introducing our newest aircraft and the latest onboard products to North America, reflecting our intent to put our best foot forward in one of the world’s most competitive long-haul markets. Together, these initiatives mark another important step in our journey to make Air India a world-class airline and the preferred gateway between India and the world.”