Quantcast

Air Canada announces three new US routes despite decline in cross-border travel

US court blocks Biden administration's airline fee disclosure rule
JetBlue Issues Dim Outlook But Execs Remain Confident in Turnaround Plan
These Frequent Fliers Are Done With Loyalty Programs
JetBlue accepting Venmo as payment method for flights purchased through mobile app
United Airlines stock rallies on results, as growing demand wasn’t just about premium seats
Delta Adds Another Alaska Route
Southwest to Reduce Pilot Head Count at Several Bases
Dublin Airport savings boost for holidaymakers – but passengers need to be quick
American Halts CRJ-200 Operations
Shanghai Airlines to Launch Casablanca Route
Delta employees to receive an average five weeks of pay in annual profit sharing
Akasa Air faces DGCA heat for lapses; warning letter issued to airline's accountable manager
Indigo Eyes European Market Amid Intensifying Competition with Air India
Air India to operate daily Delhi-Prayagraj flights for Maha Kumbh
Engine maker agrees to compensate WizzAir for grounded planes
Turkish Airlines’ flights are riddled with bedbugs, passengers say
British Airways frequent flyers react to Executive Club changes
Inside the short-lived, men-only flights where kids and women were banned but cigar and pipe smoking were rife
China steps up drive to break Boeing, Airbus grip on plane market
Heathrow’s New York service clings to spot in top aviation routes
Airline praises pilots in crash-landing where both died but nearly half the passengers survived
Mexico state airline to buy five Embraer planes next year
A record number of people are expected to fly over the holidays. That's good for travel stocks, but not for passengers.
American Airlines technical issue sparks travel chaos on Christmas Eve as flights heavily delayed after being grounded
Why United Airlines has had such a stellar year despite being Boeing's biggest customer
JetBlue nixing routes between multiple major cities, reducing several others
Airline Stocks Led The Travel Industry's Record 2024 Rally. Here's What's Next.
It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel
Qatar Airways cleans up at the World Travel Awards
All of the strikes at European airports this winter – find out if you are affected
Air Canada announces three new US routes despite decline in cross-border travel
Research
Webp 11
Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer | Air Canada

Air Canada has announced plans to launch three new seasonal routes between Canada and the United States in summer 2026, even as travel between the two countries has declined.

The airline will resume service from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) to San Antonio International Airport (SAT), a route it last operated in 2020. In addition, Air Canada will introduce flights from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio. The YYZ-SAT route will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using an Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Both the YUL-CLE and YUL-CMH routes will be daily flights on Embraer E175 jets. All three services are scheduled to run seasonally from May 1 through October 2026.

This expansion comes at a time when transborder air travel is facing challenges. According to data from the U.S. International Trade Administration, Canadian arrivals in the United States by air dropped by 11% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024, with only 4.7 million Canadians traveling south by air during that timeframe. Cirium data also indicates that Air Canada flew 7% fewer transborder seats from May through August this summer compared to last year.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Despite these declines, Air Canada says it plans to increase its capacity between Canada and the U.S. by about 15% next summer.

The airline may be aiming its new routes more at American travelers connecting onward rather than Canadians flying directly to the U.S. Air Canada's hubs—Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver—are frequently used for so-called "sixth-freedom" traffic: passengers originating in one country, transferring in another (Canada), then continuing on to a third destination such as Europe or Asia.

Alexandre Lefèvre, Air Canada's vice president of planning and scheduling, said earlier this year that the carrier intends to add up to 15 new U.S. airports to expand connectivity over its hubs, focusing on midsize cities without dominant hub airlines rather than larger markets. "Our big focus, and our big success over the past few years, have been in those unaligned markets where we've got a right to win," he said.

The announcement follows other recent long-haul expansion plans for Air Canada in summer 2026. The airline is set to begin flights from Toronto to Palma de Mallorca in Spain and Catania in Italy while resuming previously suspended routes from Toronto to Budapest and Shanghai.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Emirates Airline hosted members of UAE Team Emirates XRG at its Group Headquarters, marking the team's successful season in international cycling.

Oct 28, 2025

Amazon has announced that its KSBD Air Hub in San Bernardino recognized its September High Flyers for their outstanding commitment to the company's 16 Leadership Principles.

Oct 28, 2025

Amazon announced that employees at its KSBD Air Hub in San Bernardino participated in the 2025 Pink on Parade for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Oct 28, 2025

The ShebaMiles loyalty program, operated by Ethiopian Airlines for over 26 years, has more than 5.38 million members and offers four membership tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Oct 28, 2025

Long Beach Airport has entered into a 30-year lease agreement with JetZero, Inc., a company focused on next-generation aircraft design.

Oct 28, 2025

Passengers planning summer travel for 2026 can now book flights with Lufthansa Group Airlines, which has released its schedule featuring new destinations and increased frequencies.

Oct 28, 2025