SOMMA LOMBARDO — Italian holiday carrier Neos (NO) has indefinitely suspended its Amritsar–Milan–Toronto service due to "international geopolitical instability" and plummeting passenger demand. The service was suspended in early October, as the carrier withdrew from the Canadian market until further notice.

Declining Demand, Refunds

The three-continent service aboard the carrier's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner had brought India's Punjab region and Canada together through Milan Malpensa. But falling bookings and increasing operating expenses made the route unsustainable. 

The airline has not assured that all impacted passengers will receive full refunds. Those who booked at ‘neosair.com’ will be contacted directly, whereas those who booked with travel agencies are being requested to contact their agents.

The Amritsar–Milan–Toronto leg was launched in April 2023, intended primarily to cater to the Punjabi expatriate community in Canada. Despite initial enthusiasm, the 16-hour multi-leg flight experienced low load factors, leading NO to downgrade it to a seasonal service earlier this year, before its full suspension.

Strategic Adjustments

Although the airline is withdrawing from transatlantic flying for the time being, it will continue to operate flights from Rome Fiumicino and Verona to Amritsar. Airline data analyst Cirium confirmed that the Toronto segment has been dropped from schedules until the close of the 2026 summer season.

Travelers in Amritsar continue to have one-stop options to Canada, particularly through Qatar Airways to Doha, providing a shorter total travel time than the defunct NO route.