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British Airways is expanding its complimentary “Meet and Assist” service for Indian passengers traveling to Canada, in a move aimed at easing transit through busy international hubs and responding to surging demand on the corridor.
The airline said the service—first rolled out across its five Indian gateways last year—will now be extended to customers connecting through London Heathrow Airport and arriving in Canada at Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport from the end of April 2026.
The expansion follows a pilot phase in India that supported more than 13,000 passengers, offering personalized, in-person guidance at airports—particularly for those requiring additional assistance navigating complex transit procedures.
Under the programme, airline staff provide support at multiple touchpoints, including check-in, baggage drop, security and immigration, boarding, and transit connections. At Heathrow, dedicated staff assist passengers with wayfinding between terminals and onward flights, while additional ground support will now be available upon arrival in Toronto and Vancouver.
Tom Moran, Director of Heathrow at British Airways, said the move reflects both rising passenger volumes and the need for more accessible travel. “As demand for travel between India and Canada continues to grow, we want to ensure customers feel supported at every stage of their journey,” he said, adding that the service is designed to make travel “clearer, calmer and more accessible.”
The airline has also tailored the service for Indian travelers, offering assistance in Hindi and Punjabi, alongside deploying Indian cabin crew proficient in regional languages on flights to and from the country.
The expansion comes amid a sharp uptick in travel interest between the two regions. British Airways reported a 92 per cent month-on-month increase in searches for India–Canada itineraries on its website earlier this month, signaling robust outbound demand.
Currently, the carrier operates 56 weekly direct flights from five Indian cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad—to London, with onward connectivity to Canada supported by around 8,000 seats per week from Heathrow.
Industry observers say the move underscores intensifying competition among global carriers to capture India-origin long-haul traffic, particularly on routes linking North America via European hubs, where seamless transit and passenger experience are emerging as key differentiators.
