If the Canadian airline has the right marketing strategy and the right planning, its Mumbai route will go full with the cream of the crowd in the business class
WINNIPEG: Air Canada has just announced a new thrice weekly non-stop flight between Montreal and Delhi. The airline already flies to India from Toronto and Vancouver.
The news of the Montreal-Delhi flights made me happy and I went down memory lane.
Air Canada’s first flight to India started in 1985-1986. That flight was Toronto-London-Bombay-Singapore. India was a close economy with licence raj at that time when Air Canada launched its first operation to the country.
I was on that inaugural flight from Toronto to Bombay. It was a L1011 aircraft and the service offered at that time was first class, business class and economy class. It was really amazing service. In first-class, they used to serve hot breakfast in the morning before you reached London. From London to Bombay, it was around 11 hours’ flight and they used to serve nice hot lunch and dinner and in between nice snacks before you arrived in Mumbai.
I also remember going to India in 1986 with a trade mission led by former PM Joe Clark.There were almost 100 companies from across Canada participating in a 10-day big trade show in Delhi. It was during Canada Day. There was also a Canadian food festival, a Canadian film festival and a performance by CMP band. Canadian singer Liona Boyd also performed.
We all travelled in an Air Canada flight, making it an amazing experience. Air Canada was the only airline in those days flying from Canada to India.
But today I feel a little upset because I wonder when Air Canada will start its operations to Mumbai again. It is the financial capital of India and also the Bollywood capital of India. Why is Air Canada ignoring this destination?
Air Canada has added three more flights to New Delhi, but what about Mumbai? Is Air Canada getting the right advice from its marketing team? What is the issue?
I want to have a flight to Mumbai and then the second destination should be Ahmedabad. There are lots of immigrants from western India in Canada. If you have the right marketing strategy and the right planning, the Mumbai route will go full with the cream of the crowd in the business class.
Like me, there are many who must be cherishing the memory of Air Canada’s first operation to Mumbai. Today, they are looking forward to having a regular Air Canada flight to Mumbai.
For Air Canada, this is the time to ponder and consider Mumbai not just as another destination but for its value from business viewpoint. There are many passengers from Mumbai who travel to and from Canada regularly. Air Canada must think strategically about the opportunity and develop their marketing plan for flights to Mumbai.
Having Air Canada once again flying to Mumbai will be a breath of fresh air.
We would love their service to Mumbai – not just three days a week or five days a week, but seven days a week.
Are you listening, Air Canada?
(Hemant Shah is a businessman based in Winnipeg)
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You are right Mr Shah