Neos Airline Halts Flights to Canada Amid Geopolitical Instability

Italian airline Neos has announced the suspension of its Amritsar-Milan-Toronto route indefinitely, effective from October 8, 2025. The decision stems from “international geopolitical instability,” which has resulted in a significant decline in bookings and low load factors, making the route financially unsustainable.

Neos entered the transatlantic market less than four years ago, launching direct flights between Milan Malpensa Airport (MPX) and New York JFK International Airport (JFK) in November 2021. The airline utilized its fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for this service, which featured a one-stop route from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar (ATQ) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). This route began operations in April 2023 to cater to the large Punjabi diaspora in Canada, using Milan as a refueling stop.

According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, the weekly flight connecting Amritsar and Toronto has been removed from the schedule until the end of the summer 2026 season. Despite this route’s suspension, Neos will continue its operations from Amritsar with two connections from Rome Fiumicino and Verona.

Neos stated, “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 as of October 8, 2025.”

Alternative Travel Options to Canada

Residents in Amritsar still have viable travel options to Canada. Qatar Airways offers a one-stop itinerary from Amritsar to Toronto via its Doha hub. The Qatari carrier launched a three-times-weekly service to Toronto in December 2022, utilizing its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Additionally, direct flights from Delhi are available through Air Canada and Air India, although Delhi’s airport is often bypassed due to lengthy queues for connecting passengers.

Qatar Airways has been flying to Amritsar since 2009 and currently operates a daily flight. Its Doha-Toronto service is also daily, with favorable timings for connecting passengers. The outbound flight from Amritsar departs at 04:10, arriving in Doha at 06:05. The onward flight leaves Doha at 09:50 and reaches Toronto at 15:55. This schedule provides a shorter total journey time compared to Neos’ previous service.

Operational Challenges for Neos

Neos operates a fleet of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with the first aircraft delivered in December 2017. These Dreamliners can accommodate up to 359 passengers in two cabin classes, including 28 premium economy seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. Recently, the airline has faced significant engine issues with its 787 fleet, prompting it to wet-lease capacity from other carriers to maintain operations. This includes the use of two Airbus A340s from Romania’s Legend Airlines, which have previously serviced the Amritsar-Toronto route.

Neos is primarily a Boeing carrier, also operating the Boeing 737 family, including the 737-800 and the 737 MAX 8. Prior to the pandemic, it also operated a limited number of Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

The suspension of flights to Canada marks a significant shift for Neos, which aimed to expand its international presence. As the airline navigates these operational challenges, travelers will need to explore alternative options for transatlantic flights.