In the midst of escalating tensions between India and Canada, last-minute airfares along the India-Canada routes have skyrocketed, leaving travelers in dismay.
The escalating diplomatic dispute has triggered an unexpected surge in demand, causing airfare prices to reach unprecedented levels.
Data from well-known travel portals paints a challenging picture for individuals planning flights between New Delhi and Toronto. Spot fares for direct flights have now breached the Rs 1.46 lakh mark. The return journey from Toronto to Delhi is equally daunting, with fares exceeding Rs 1.01 lakh.
Travelers considering the New Delhi-Montreal route face costs soaring over Rs 1.55 lakh, and the reverse journey is no less expensive, totaling over Rs 1.16 lakh. Passengers aiming for a last-minute escape from New Delhi to Vancouver will need to prepare for an expenditure of approximately Rs 1.33 lakh, while those heading to Vancouver will have to cope with a substantial bill of nearly Rs 1.3 lakh.
Travel portals have reported a remarkable spike of up to 25 percent in last-minute fares. This surge in bookings encompasses both tourists and citizens rushing to visit friends and family in either country.
On this crucial route, Air India and Air Canada are the sole carriers, jointly providing a total of 48 weekly flights between the two nations. Air India operates daily flights between New Delhi and Toronto and New Delhi and Vancouver, while Air Canada maintains daily flights between New Delhi and Toronto and runs three weekly flights between New Delhi and Montreal.
The India-Canada air traffic market constitutes a noteworthy 1.2 percent of the total international passenger traffic to and from India, solidifying India’s position as Canada’s fourth-largest international air transport market. In FY23, an impressive total of 678,614 passengers traveled between the two nations, contributing to India’s overall international traffic, which stood at 54 million passengers.
Recently, India suspended visa services in Canada, citing ‘operational reasons.’ BLS, a private agency entrusted with the initial screening of visa applications from Canadians, issued a notice on its website, conveying, “Due to operational reasons, Indian visa services have been suspended until further notice, effective from 21 September 2023. Please continue to check the BLS website for updates.”
Diplomatic relations between India and Canada have taken a significant hit, triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s suggestion of a ‘potential link’ between Indian government agents and the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India vehemently rejected this claim as ‘absurd and motivated.’ Nijjar, designated as a terrorist in India, tragically lost his life outside a Gurdwara in a parking area in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on 18 June.
The first air transport agreement between India and Canada was inked back in 1982. Subsequently, it was expanded in 2011, permitting each nation to operate up to 35 flights per week. In November 2022, the agreement was further expanded, granting designated airlines unrestricted access between India and Canada.
This development paved the way for Canadian carriers to serve key Indian cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. On the flip side, Indian airlines secured access to Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and two additional destinations yet to be determined by India.
A closer look at direct air traffic between India and Canada in FY23 reveals that nearly 62 percent of the total traffic between the two countries is concentrated on the Toronto-New Delhi route, with an additional 25 percent of passenger traffic opting for the Vancouver-New Delhi route. The Montreal-New Delhi route accounts for the remaining 13 percent.
In FY23, a remarkable 420,798 passengers traveled the Toronto-New Delhi route, with 171,982 passengers choosing the Vancouver-New Delhi route, and 85,834 passengers taking the Montreal-New Delhi route. Travelers are navigating these soaring fares with a sense of resilience as they adapt to the evolving circumstances of this diplomatic tussle.
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