Air India and Air Canada Revive Codeshare Agreement to Expand Flights Between India and Canada
Air India revives codeshare with Air Canada to offer single‑ticket access to six Canadian cities from December.
Air India has reinstated its code-share agreement with Air Canada, effective December 2, 2025, marking a significant enhancement in connectivity between India and Canada. The partnership, between the two Star Alliance carriers aims to provide passengers with expanded travel options and seamless itineraries across the two nations. This development comes as both airlines seek to capitalize on growing demand for transcontinental routes, particularly amid recovering international air travel post-pandemic. By reinstating the agreement, Air India and Air Canada are facilitating easier access to multiple destinations, benefiting business travelers, tourists, and the Indian diaspora in Canada.
Under the revived code-share arrangement, Air India will place its 'AI' designator code on select Air Canada flights, offering connectivity to six key Canadian cities beyond Vancouver: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montréal, and Halifax. Additionally, the agreement extends to routes from London Heathrow to Vancouver and Calgary. In reciprocation, Air Canada will enable seamless domestic connections within India, linking to Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kochi through Delhi, as well as direct access to Delhi and Mumbai via London Heathrow. Passengers can now book combined journeys on a single ticket, enjoy unified baggage allowances, and redeem frequent flyer miles or points across both airlines' loyalty programs, streamlining the travel experience.
The reinstatement underscores the strategic importance of the India-Canada corridor, which has seen steady growth in passenger traffic. Air India, undergoing a major fleet modernization and network expansion under its parent Tata Group, views this partnership as a key step in strengthening its global footprint. Similarly, Air Canada benefits from deeper penetration into the lucrative Indian market, where bilateral air traffic has more than doubled since 2019. While specific reasons for the prior suspension were not detailed, the move aligns with broader industry trends toward collaborative models to optimize routes and reduce operational silos in a competitive aviation landscape.
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This collaboration is poised to foster greater economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries, supporting trade volumes that exceeded $10 billion in recent years. As both airlines integrate these enhancements into their schedules, travelers can anticipate more flexible and efficient options for cross-border journeys. The agreement also highlights the resilience of international aviation partnerships, contributing to a more interconnected world amid evolving geopolitical and market dynamics.
