Air Canada is set to launch daily flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to four key U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The airline plans to kick off with four daily round-trip flights to New York LaGuardia in March 2026, followed by three daily flights to Boston Logan, two to Chicago O’Hare, and one to Washington Dulles during the summer season.
This move intensifies the competition between Air Canada and Porter Airlines, the latter currently servicing these American destinations from Billy Bishop. The escalation in rivalry is evident as Air Canada taps into these routes.
The expansion of services is facilitated by the forthcoming opening of U.S. customs pre-clearance at the Toronto Island airport, as highlighted by Roelof-Jan Steenstra, CEO of PortsToronto, during a recent news conference. The pre-clearance facility is on track to launch in the near future, allowing passengers to complete American customs formalities before boarding their flights while still in Canada.
With Canadian travel to the U.S. experiencing a significant decline, Air Canada’s decision to introduce new U.S. routes and enhance domestic connections comes at a crucial time. The airline is also boosting the frequency of flights on two domestic routes, with one additional daily flight to Montreal and two to Ottawa.
These new routes will be serviced by 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, as per the airline’s announcement. The strategic expansion aims to cater to evolving travel demands and enhance connectivity options for passengers.
