American Airlines will be introducing new direct flights from New York City’s JFK Airport to Calgary and Quebec, Canada starting in August 2026. This decision is part of the airline’s plan to expand its international offerings from New York this summer, with a specific focus on the Canadian market.

Despite recent trends of decreased travel from Canada to the United States, American Airlines is confident in the demand for Canadian leisure travel from American travelers. This decision follows United Airlines’ successful challenge to Canada’s U. S. travel boycott, with the introduction of 14 new routes to the neighboring country.

The new flights from JFK to Calgary and Quebec will be operated by the Embraer E175 and Boeing 737 MAX 8, according to Cirium’s schedule data. American Airlines has been gradually expanding its service in Canada since 2024, with routes connecting Calgary to Charlotte, North Carolina and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, and Quebec City to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.

Currently, there are no direct, nonstop flights from JFK to Quebec City, but Canada’s WestJet offers a daily nonstop flight from JFK to Calgary. The closest alternative would be Air Canada’s direct flights to Calgary and United Airlines’ direct flights to Quebec City from Newark, New Jersey.

In contrast to the decline in Canadian travelers to the U. S. , Canada’s Porter Airlines has been helping to offset the decrease by adding flights to Florida, with nine Florida destinations listed on its website. In 2025, American Airlines partnered with Porter Airlines, offering codeshare and loyalty tie-ups for AAdvantage members.

Under a 2025 agreement with Canada’s Porter Airlines, American Airlines will launch new routes in 2026 from Ottawa International Airport to Miami International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, as well as from Vancouver International Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor. The airline has confirmed these routes to industry analysts, with Senior Vice President of Global Alliances, Anmol Bhargava, noting that “Canada is one of the most popular destinations for travelers.

In summary, American Airlines’ decision to introduce two new direct routes from JFK to Calgary and Quebec in August 2026 aligns with their strategy to expand service in Canada and meet the strong demand for Canadian leisure travel from American travelers.