On the heels of the big news that Air Canada is serving free beer, wine and snacks on all flights, the airline has just made a surprising announcement.
The Canadian airline is launching the first-ever nonstop service between Canada and San Antonio — plus new transborder routes to major U.S. cities and an increase in the number of daily flights to Montréal and Ottawa.
And that’s not all: get ready for a major expansion at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ).
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Air Canada has unveiled several major new routes launching in May 2026, including a first-of-its-kind flight between Toronto and San Antonio.
Given the slowdown in U.S. travel, the expansion is aligned with growing demand from business travellers.
Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo, Air Canada, stated in a recent press release that the new transborder routes will strengthen business connectivity between downtown Toronto and key U.S. markets, while the expanded Montréal and Ottawa services further support Canada’s busiest domestic travel corridors.
The new service will begin on May 1, 2026, operating three times per week aboard an Airbus A220 aircraft.
That’s not all — the airline is also expanding its U.S. network from Montreal with two additional daily routes
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What are the new U.S. flights on Air Canada starting May 2026?
Air Canada will be adding these two daily routes:
Montreal (YUL) – Cleveland (CLE)
Montreal (YUL) – Columbus (CMH)
Both routes will operate daily using Embraer E175 aircraft.
While the move may come as a surprise given the slowdown in U.S. travel, the expansion aligns with growing demand from business travellers — especially since San Antonio serves as a major Texas hub for Canadian companies.
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Air Canada also emphasized that the new San Antonio route is designed to appeal to leisure travellers looking to explore the city’s rich culture and warm climate.
Flying out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport?
New services designed with business travellers in mind will coincide with an enhanced customer experience at the island airport, including fast, free onboard Wi-Fi, complimentary premium snacks, beer and wine, and exclusive access to the Aspire Air Canada Café for eligible domestic customers.
Beginning in Spring 2026, Air Canada will launch non-stop return service:
Four times daily to New York (LaGuardia Airport)
Three times daily to Boston (Logan International Airport)
Twice daily to Chicago (O’Hare International Airport)
Once daily to Washington (Dulles International Airport)
The start of transborder operations from Billy Bishop will follow the opening of U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance at the airport—allowing travellers to clear U.S. customs before departure.
In addition, starting in January 2026, Air Canada will increase its domestic flight frequencies from Toronto Island, adding:
Nine daily return flights to Montréal (up from eight)
Six daily return flights to Ottawa (up from four)
For more news about Air Canada, click here.
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