Air Canada’s New Routes

Air Canada has put the wheels in motion for a major expansion from Toronto with a focus on Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

As part of an expansion, transborder connectivity is set to benefit considerably, with four major U.S. cities to become new routes for the airline in 2026.

Additionally, Air Canada has committed to increasing flights to key markets, including Montréal and Ottawa, to support business travel while also enhancing customer options between cities across the country.

Firstly, the airline will launch nonstop service between Toronto Billy Bishop and New York LaGuardia (LGA) from March 29, 2025, with four daily departures from Toronto, operating from 0700 through 1800.

Throughout the day, in what will be a busy operation for the Canadian flag-carrier, AC8532, AC8534, AC8536, and AC8538 will complete the roughly 1-hour 20-minute flight between the two markets.

This is our most significant expansion at Toronto Island since Air Canada first served the airport 35 years ago. The new transborder routes will especially benefit our loyal customers and business travellers by creating frequent and easy connections between the heart of Canada’s financial capital and the major markets of New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago. Moreover, we are increasing at the island the daily frequency of return flights from Toronto to Montréal and Ottawa, which are Canada’s most heavily travelled corridors for business traffic.

Mark Galardo, Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo.

Thrice-daily service will then commence on July 1, 2026, to Boston Logan (BOS), with the airline committing to offering morning, lunchtime, and evening departures from Toronto to benefit a wide array of customers.

Twice-daily service to the popular Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2026. These flights will operate as AC8547/AC8548, departing Billy Bishop at 1215 and then O’Hare at 0725. The return flight is scheduled as AC9540 and AC8550.

Additionally, on June 1, 2026, Air Canada will launch a once-daily flight to Washington Dulles (IAG) departing at 1455 as AC8540, with the return leg AC8539.

It’s not just transborder connectivity that’ll be boosted; Air Canada says it’ll add new daily flights from Toronto Island to the Eastern Triangle of Canada in January of next year.

As part of its commitment to its home country, an additional flight to Montréal will be added, bringing the total to nine return flights daily. Additionally, Ottawa will see two more frequencies, bringing the total to six daily return trips.

Air Canada Aircraft Upgrades

These flights will be operated by the De Havilland Dash 8-400, which has just seen a sizeable upgrade, with work to continue in the coming year.

Over the coming months and into 2026, the flag carrier will enhance 25 of the Q-400 aircraft operated by Air Canada Express (Jazz Aviation) to bring them up to speed with counterparts around the world.

A move to be concluded by mid-2026 will focus on a complete redesign of the cabin product, with new amenities such as interior upgrades, free Wi-Fi on select services, and seating, all designed to elevate customers’ experience.

The adoption of fast, free Wi-Fi also represents a critical moment for the industry, marking the first for the aircraft type and part of Air Canada’s efforts to substantially raise the standards for regional connectivity.

The airline, at the time of the announcement, said that Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport would be the first to benefit from those, especially when travelling to major city airports in Montréal and Ottawa, where business travel is prevalent.

Once all is said and done, the airline says that seat pitch will remain the same and the seat count will be 78 passengers across all cabins, to incorporate changes that are more reflective of the broader airline’s operations.