Air India boosts international services: From Toronto to Shanghai - Here are routes where airline enhanced operations

Air India has announced a major expansion of its international operations as part of its Northern Summer Schedule for 2026, focusing on higher frequencies and improved passenger experience across key global routes. The airline said the move is aimed at strengthening connectivity while introducing more upgraded aircraft featuring modern cabin interiors.

As part of the expansion, flights between Delhi and Toronto will increase from 7 services a week to ten starting March 1. From March 29, services on the Delhi–Seoul (Incheon) route will rise from five to six weekly flights, while the recently introduced Delhi–Shanghai service will be enhanced from four to five weekly operations. The additional services are expected to add more than two thousand seats per month on each route, offering greater flexibility for travellers.

The airline has also introduced upgraded aircraft on several long-haul sectors. Since February 14, flights between Delhi and Tokyo (Haneda) are being operated using Boeing 787-9 aircraft featuring a 3-class cabin layout, including the introduction of premium economy seating. This change adds thousands of seats monthly on the route while offering more choices for passengers seeking upgraded comfort.

On the Europe network, Air India said flights connecting Mumbai and London (Heathrow) will begin operating with a mix of new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and retrofitted Boeing 787-8 planes from July 1. Both aircraft types will feature redesigned interiors aimed at enhancing the onboard experience. The upgraded configuration includes premium cabins and expanded seating capacity, allowing the airline to add thousands of additional seats every month on key long-haul routes.

From August 1, flights between Bengaluru and London Heathrow will also transition to retrofitted aircraft with refreshed cabins and the introduction of premium economy seats. With this rollout, all Air India services to and from London Heathrow will operate using aircraft with updated interiors.

The airline further noted that part of the expanded Delhi–Toronto schedule will be operated using newly inducted Boeing 787-9 aircraft from August 1, offering modern three-class cabins. Remaining services on the route will continue with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. According to the company, more than half of its flights to North America will soon operate with either new or upgraded cabin products.

With these changes, Air India is positioning itself to improve international connectivity while aligning its fleet with evolving passenger expectations, as demand for long-haul travel continues to grow.