Air Canada Expands from Toronto’s Billy Bishop with 4 New U.S. Routes
Air Canada is set to significantly expand its footprint at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, introducing four new daily routes to major U.S. cities as part of its 2026 schedule.
Starting March 2026, the airline will launch four daily round-trip flights to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, followed by three daily flights to Boston Logan, two to Chicago O’Hare, and one to Washington Dulles later in the summer, according to Thursday’s company announcement.
The move heightens competition with Porter Airlines, which already services the same American destinations from Billy Bishop. The expansion is enabled by the upcoming U.S. customs pre-clearance facility at the downtown Toronto airport, allowing passengers to complete American customs procedures before boarding.
“The facility is expected to open in the coming months,” said Roelof-Jan Steenstra, CEO of PortsToronto, during a press conference. “Once operational, travellers will clear U.S. customs while still on Canadian soil.”
The timing is notable: Canadian air travel to the U.S. has been on the decline. Statistics Canada data from September shows a 27.1% year-over-year drop in the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. by air.
Several carriers, including Air Canada, have reduced or suspended select cross-border routes this year. Even the U.S. ambassador to Canada recently suggested Washington may reevaluate its pre-clearance agreements amid the decline in traffic.
Still, Air Canada appears optimistic. Alongside the new U.S. routes, the airline is boosting domestic service, adding one additional daily flight to Montreal and two to Ottawa.
All new services will operate using 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, balancing frequency and capacity across short-haul destinations.
The expansion signals Air Canada’s renewed push to reclaim market share in key North American business and leisure corridors—right from the heart of downtown Toronto.
