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Air Canada is set to make a major move at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) with the introduction of four new US routes and increased domestic frequencies in spring 2026. The airline will launch nonstop service to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), while also adding more flights to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW).
The expansion comes as Billy Bishop prepares to open US Customs Pre-Clearance facilities in early 2026, which will allow travelers to complete customs formalities before departure (a key convenience for business and frequent travelers heading to the United States). Air Canada is also looking to stick it to rival airline, Porter, who has currently has a larger presence at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ).
Beginning spring 2026, Air Canada will launch new transborder flights operated by Air Canada Express using its upgraded De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. The new routes will feature frequent service designed to meet the needs of business travelers and short-haul flyers:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (3x daily)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) (2x daily)
- New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) (up to 4x daily)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) (1x daily)
In addition to the new international destinations, Air Canada will bolster its domestic network from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) with:
- Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) (increasing to 9x daily flights from 8x)
- Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) (increasing to 6x daily flights from 4x)
These additional frequencies will take effect in January 2026. The expansion aligns with a broader upgrade to Air Canada’s regional travel experience. In October 2025, the airline became the first to offer free Wi-Fi on flights to/from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Passengers now enjoy seamless access to high-speed Internet from gate to gate. In addition to complimentary Wi-Fi, customers can expect premium snacks, beer, and wine onboard, as well as exclusive access to the Aspire Air Canada Café for eligible travelers.
To complement its network growth, Air Canada has begun a full cabin redesign program across 25 Dash 8-400 aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation LP. The upgrades, scheduled for completion by mid-2026, include:
- New Seating: Ergonomic, reclining seats from Expliseat with enhanced cushioning, multi-use device holders, and modern design inspired by Air Canada’s refreshed branding.
- Interior Redesign: Cabins will feature tones and textures reflective of Canada’s natural landscape, creating a warm, premium feel consistent with Air Canada’s mainline interiors.
Each aircraft will retain a 78-seat configuration with the same seat pitch.
Mark Galardo, Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and President of Cargo, said:
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.”
Anthony’s Take: Competition is good for consumers and Air Canada will bring the heat to Porter with these new routes. It will be interesting to see how pricing is impacted, but the soft product and seating seems like a win.
(Image Credits: Air Canada.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
