Air India has announced a new interline partnership with WestJet, aimed at expanding travel options between India and North America. The collaboration allows passengers to access more than 30 destinations across Canada and the United States through key gateways like Toronto and Vancouver.

With this partnership, travellers can now book single-ticket itineraries that combine Air India and WestJet flights. This ensures a smoother journey with coordinated baggage handling and a more streamlined travel experience.

Passengers flying into Toronto or Vancouver with Air India can connect further on WestJet to 17 cities across Canada and 14 destinations in the United States. These include major cities such as Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, among others.

Additionally, cities like Halifax, Calgary, and St. John’s can also be accessed through Air India’s European gateways, including Amsterdam (Schiphol), Paris (Charles de Gaulle), London (Heathrow), and London (Gatwick), offering more flexibility in travel routes.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Canada continues to be a key market for Air India, driven by strong people-to-people ties and increasing trade between our nations. By partnering with WestJet, we are making travel across North America more accessible and effortless for our guests, with coordinated baggage handling, single-ticket convenience, and a far wider choice of destinations.”

John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, the WestJet Group, said: “By bringing this interline agreement to life, we’re significantly expanding access between India and Canada, making it easier for our shared guests to seamlessly visit high-demand destinations across North America. This partnership aligns Air India’s long-haul strength with WestJet’s North American reach, creating meaningful new travel options and improving the end-to-end journey for travellers.”

Air India currently operates 17 weekly non-stop flights to Canada, including 10 weekly services to Toronto and 7 weekly services to Vancouver. The airline also runs 75 weekly flights to its European gateways, which further support connectivity to Canada through WestJet.

The new interline itineraries are now available for booking via Air India’s website, mobile app, and authorised travel agents worldwide, making it easier for travellers to plan seamless journeys across continents.

Long weekends feel like a gift, and the best way to use one is to actually get away. Not a full-blown vacation, but a well-planned short trip to somewhere that genuinely helps you reset. Here are five destinations that deliver exactly that, each with the kind of stay that makes the whole trip feel effortless.

Goa: Sun, Sand and Absolutely No Rush

Goa is the kind of destination that never really needs a reason. The beaches, the cafes, the slow-moving coastal rhythm, and the nightlife that picks up just when you need it: it all adds up to a long weekend that feels twice as long as it actually is. ibis Styles Goa Vagator is a solid base for this kind of trip, with stylish interiors, comfortable stays, and easy access to Vagator's beaches, neighbourhood cafes, and everything else that makes North Goa so hard to leave.

Guwahati: Northeast India's Best-Kept Secret

If you haven't been to Guwahati yet, a long weekend is exactly the right format for a first visit. Set along the Brahmaputra River with hills as a backdrop, the city offers a combination of natural beauty and cultural richness that's genuinely refreshing. Mayfair Resort in Guwahati makes a strong case for itself as a base, spread across 35 acres with landscaped gardens, private villas, and expansive lawns. It's the kind of property that makes you want to stay in almost as much as go out and explore.

Jaipur: Royal Heritage, Modern Comfort

Jaipur is one of those cities that rewards even the shortest visit. Forts, bazaars, heritage streets, and local food that stays with you well after the trip: there's a lot to cover in three days if you plan it right. ibis Jaipur sits in a convenient location with a rooftop pool, spa, and on-site dining, making it a practical and comfortable base for ticking off the Pink City's highlights without spending too much time getting from one place to another.

Himachal Pradesh: Mountains, Pine Forests and Peace

For those who just need quiet, Himachal Pradesh delivers it consistently. Cool mountain air, scenic valleys, pine-lined paths, and the kind of panoramic views that make you put your phone down for a while. Whether you're heading to Shimla, Manali, or a quieter corner of the state, a long weekend here tends to feel restorative in a way that few other destinations match.

Uttarakhand: The Himalayan Reset

Uttarakhand is what you book when city life has been particularly relentless. Hill stations, forested landscapes, crisp air, and Himalayan views that shift how you look at things, even briefly. It's a destination that requires relatively little planning to get right: arrive, slow down, and let the mountains do the rest.

Europe has always had a special place in the hearts of Indian travellers. But something has changed in recent years, people no longer just want to visit places, they want to feel them. And that's exactly the shift SOTC Travel has been tapping into.

SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours at SOTC Travel, says their European journeys are now built around real moments, think sunrise over a glacial fjord, wine with a view, or wandering through a historic old town after dark. Less checklist, more experience.

Here's a look at the destinations SOTC is currently curating for Indian travellers heading to Europe:

Norway, Finland & Iceland - Where the Sun Doesn't Set The Midnight Sun is pulling a lot of aspirational travellers towards Lapland and Iceland's dramatic landscapes. With daylight stretching round the clock during summer, there's more time to take in fjords, glaciers, and geothermal terrain — all without rushing.

Greece - History Meets Island Magic Athens, Delphi, Olympia — and then the famous sunset views from Oia in Santorini. Greece balances deep history with laid-back Mediterranean charm, and Indian travellers are clearly loving that combination.

Switzerland - Train Journeys Worth the Trip Alone Switzerland is a classic for a reason. The Swiss Alps are stunning, but it's the scenic train routes winding through mountain passes and lakeside towns that really steal the show. The journey itself becomes part of the holiday.

Scotland - Castles, Highlands & a Loch Ness Cruise Scotland is for those who want their travels to come with a story. Rugged Highlands, ancient castles, and a cruise on Loch Ness make for the kind of trip that's hard to forget, and makes for great conversation back home.

France - Paris After Dark The Eiffel Tower lit up at night, a cruise on the Seine, vineyard visits,  France continues to be one of the most romantic stops on any European trip. SOTC's "Paris by Night" experience is a particular highlight for couples and first-timers alike.

Italy - Coastal Drives and Cultural Depth The Amalfi Coast's pastel villages and clear blue waters are a dream, and Italy's cities — Rome, Florence give travellers a deep cultural fix. The mix of art, history, and coastline makes Italy one of the most well-rounded destinations in Europe.

Portugal - The Underrated Favourite Porto, Lisbon, and the Algarve are quietly becoming a top pick among travellers who've "done" the usual Europe circuit. Wine tastings in Porto, golden beaches down south, and Lisbon's buzzing food scene,  Portugal punches well above its weight.

Spain - Architecture, Food & Flamenco Barcelona's Sagrada Família, Granada's Alhambra, and flamenco evenings in Seville — Spain offers a heady mix of visual beauty and cultural richness. It's one of those destinations that keeps giving the more you explore it.

Croatia - Old Walls, Turquoise Waters Dubrovnik's ancient city walls, the cascading waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes, Croatia is a destination that surprises most travellers with just how much it offers. It's peaceful, beautiful, and deeply historic all at once.

Czech Republic - Fairy-Tale Vibes Prague's skyline and the cobblestoned charm of Český Krumlov make the Czech Republic feel like something out of a storybook. It's a great addition to any multi-country itinerary for travellers who want something a little different.

The bigger takeaway here is that Indian travellers are evolving and SOTC Travel is keeping pace. Whether it's Arctic daylight or Mediterranean beaches, the focus is now on crafting journeys that feel personal, immersive, and genuinely memorable.