Air Canada adds new Europe and Asia routes for summer 2026

In Asia, Air Canada is reinstating its Toronto-Shanghai route with four weekly Boeing 787-9 flights. This marks a shift from recent years when China-bound services were concentrated at Vancouver due to lagging demand after COVID-19. The resumption signals gradual recovery in transpacific travel patterns.

Additionally, the Vancouver-Bangkok route—previously operated only during winter—will become a year-round service with three weekly Boeing 787-9 flights. According to Air Canada, it remains the sole carrier offering nonstop service between North America and Thailand.

"Palma de Mallorca and Catania are not huge cities. Both of these airports are only served by one other North American airline (United Airlines to Mallorca and Delta Air Lines to Catania), and Air Canada has announced that Mallorca will be its first A321XLR destination. The aircraft is intended to serve small destinations that are only economical due to its size and fuel efficiency," stated the company.

The airline notes that while leisure travel drives most of these expansions—particularly toward European destinations such as Italy and Spain—the return of Shanghai reflects different market dynamics less reliant on tourism trends.

"Bangkok is not a major business destination from Canada, but it does have strong leisure demand, and Air Canada holds the unique position of being the only airline to connect Thailand to North America nonstop. In this expansion, the returning flight to Shanghai is the outlier as it's less motivated by leisure demand than the other new destinations," according to Air Canada.

The full-service carrier operates hubs at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. Founded in 1937 and led by CEO Michael Rousseau, Air Canada is part of Star Alliance and offers its Aeroplan loyalty program.