Air Canada to Launch New U. S.

In an exciting announcement for travelers, Air Canada has revealed plans to introduce new nonstop flights from Toronto’s Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) next spring. These flights, which will begin in March 2026, include routes to Boston, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D. C. This marks the first-ever challenge to Porter Airlines’ monopoly on U. S. routes from YTZ since its launch in 2008.

YTZ, which is Porter’s home base, is unique in that it only allows turboprop planes due to a ban on jet planes. Both Air Canada and Porter currently use 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400s for flights to this airport.

According to Katy Nastro, a travel expert at the cheap flight deal alert service Going, this new development will provide travelers with more options and affordability for getting to Toronto in the future. Cheap flights are great for consumers and can encourage more people to fly, especially in the U. S. -Canada market where high fares and taxes are a common issue.

However, some are questioning the necessity of these new flights. With a decline in travel between Canada and the U. S. , and even more so from YTZ, where Porter has seen a drop in passengers, there is a risk of both Air Canada and Porter losing money. If demand for travel does not improve, one of the competitors may even be forced to retreat.

YTZ: More Flights, Less Demand

Located just minutes from downtown Toronto, YTZ is situated on an island in Lake Ontario and can be accessed by tunnel or ferry. However, there has been a significant decrease in U. S. travel demand at this regional airport. According to data from the U. S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics via aviation analytics firm Cirium, there was a 25% decrease in the number of people flying from YTZ to the U. S. in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This has led to Porter cutting its seats in the market by approximately 20%.

Passenger numbers from YTZ to U. S. destinations in 2024 and 2025. Data from U. S. T-100/Cirium. In contrast, the number of monthly travelers flying from the city’s main airport, Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), to the U. S. only saw a 9% decrease during the same period, according to BTS data. Overall, there has been a nearly 12% decline in the number of Canadians entering the U. S. by air in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the U. S. International Trade Administration.

When asked about the demand for transborder travel during an interview about the new YTZ routes on October 23, Air Canada’s chief commercial officer Mark Galardo stated that while there has been a