Italian airline Neos is suspending flights between Toronto and Amritsar, India.
In a statement, the airline said the service, which involves a stopover in Milan, will be suspended as of Wednesday. It blamed “current international geopolitical instability and the resulting decline in booking trends.”
Neos said it will reach out to affected customers and provide instructions for a refund. Customers who booked Toronto-Amritsar flights through a travel agency were told to contact the agency directly.
Neos launched the service between Toronto and Amritsar in 2023 to help connect eastern Canada’s relatively large Punjabi diaspora population with northern India. FlyAmritsar, an Indian organization that advocates for expanded air service to and from Amritsar, called the airline’s decision a “major setback” for the region and for the Punjabi community in North America.
Toronto will remain a part of Neos’ route network, with nonstop service to Milan set to continue.
Neos has its main operations base at Milan Malpensa Airport and flies primarily within Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It has one destination in the U.S., New York-JFK, which it connects with Milan and Bari, Italy.
