Amid the ongoing diplomatic downfall between India and Canada, airfares have shot up the roof as travelers are rushed to advance their plans, leaving them in total dismay before the rift grows further. The stand-off between New Delhi and Ottawa has left many in a pickle as Indian students applying to Canadian universities, immigrants aspiring for residency, and people working or having families in either country are left wondering about their next step.
On the other hand, Canadian tourists and business travellers are also rushing to change flights and inquire about their trip deposits.
Data from travel portals show a direct flight between New Delhi and Toronto have crossed `2.77 lakh in the last minute fares in economy class. The cheapest fares for a direct flight between New Delhi and Toronto have touched between `1.46 lakh and `1.27 lakh. The average fare between New Delhi and Toronto is between `55000 and 75,000 depending on the booking.
The air fares between New Delhi and Vancouver is `1.27 lakh in normal class and it is ` 2.01 lakh in economy class. Similar fares for New Delhi-Montreal cost between `1.99 lakh and `1.61 lakh in the opposite direction.
This surge in bookings encompasses both tourists and citizens rushing to visit friends and family in either country.
The number of Indians travelling to Canada has risen with students forming a sizable proportion. In 2022, Indians made up 40 percent of total international students studying in Canada. The total number of Indian students on study visas in Canada has crossed over three lakh.
The standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa has left many in a fix as students applying to Canadian universities and people working or having families in either country are left wondering about their next step.
In 2023 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.
Similarly, the New Delhi’s move has left most Canadians confused as they won’t be able to travel here if they don't already have a visa. Reports suggested e-visa applications online were also not being processed for Canadians.
Between New Delhi and Ottawa, Air India and Air Canada are the sole carriers, jointly providing a total of 45-48 weekly flights between the two countries.
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 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.
The data shows around 62 percent of total traffic between the two countries are on the Toronto-New Delhi route; 25 percent passenger traffic is operated on Vancouver-New Delhi route and 13 percent on Montreal-New Delhi route.
The stand-off between New Delhi and Ottawa are at their lowest point in decades after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian activist who was pushing for an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region.
India has denied the allegation, calling it "absurd" and hitting back with measures aimed at curbing travel between two nations. India has further suspended visa services to Canadians.