Neos Airline Suspends Toronto Flights Amid Geopolitical Instability

Italian carrier Neos has announced the indefinite suspension of its Amritsar-Milan-Toronto route due to “international geopolitical instability.” The airline, which launched this service in April 2023, cited a significant decline in bookings and low load factors as the primary reasons for this decision. As a result, Neos will cease operations to Canada entirely, effective October 8, 2025, until further notice.

The route was initially introduced to cater to Canada’s large Punjabi diaspora, utilizing Milan Malpensa Airport (MPX) as a refueling stop. Passengers faced a total journey time of approximately 21 hours, which included around 16 hours of flight time plus a five-hour layover in Milan. The suspension of this service has been confirmed by data from aviation analytics company Cirium, which indicates that the weekly flight will be removed until the end of the summer 2026 season.

Operational Impact and Alternatives

Despite the suspension of flights to Toronto, Neos will continue to maintain its two connections from Rome Fiumicino and Verona to Amritsar. In a statement, the airline explained, “Due to the current international geopolitical instability and the resulting decline in booking trends, with load factors unfortunately insufficient to ensure operational sustainability, we are forced to suspend all flights between Amritsar and Toronto.”

Travelers in the Amritsar region still have viable options for reaching Canada. Qatar Airways provides a one-stop itinerary from Amritsar to Toronto via its Doha hub. The Qatari carrier began a three-times-weekly service to Toronto in December 2022, utilizing its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Additionally, Air Canada and Air India offer direct flights from Delhi, although travelers often prefer to avoid this airport due to long queues for connecting passengers.

Qatar Airways has been operating to Amritsar since 2009 and currently runs a daily flight to the region. The convenient schedule allows for favorable layover times in Doha, with the outbound flight from Amritsar leaving at 04:10 and arriving in Doha at 06:05. The onward flight departs at 09:50 and arrives in Toronto at 15:55, providing a shorter total journey time compared to Neos’ service.

Neos’ Fleet and Future Prospects

Neos operates a fleet of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with the first aircraft delivered in December 2017. The Dreamliners can accommodate up to 359 passengers across two cabin classes, featuring 28 premium economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 331 economy seats. Recently, the airline has faced significant challenges with its 787 fleet, including engine troubles, leading it to wet-lease capacity from other carriers. This includes the use of two Airbus A340 aircraft from Romania’s Legend Airlines, which have previously serviced the Amritsar-Toronto route.

As Neos focuses on its remaining routes, the airline continues to operate its Boeing 737 fleet, which includes both the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 models. The airline had also operated a limited number of Boeing 767-300 aircraft prior to the pandemic.

The suspension of flights to Toronto marks a significant shift for Neos, which entered the transatlantic market less than four years ago with a direct service from Milan to New York. As geopolitical factors continue to impact international travel, airlines like Neos may need to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape to ensure operational sustainability moving forward.