Air Canada is set to launch daily flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to four key U.S. destinations, including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The airline plans to commence four daily round-trip flights to New York LaGuardia in March 2026, followed by the introduction of three daily flights to Boston Logan, two to Chicago O’Hare, and one to Washington Dulles during the summer.
The move signifies a new chapter in the rivalry between Air Canada and Porter Airlines, which currently serves these American cities from Billy Bishop. The expansion of Air Canada’s services is facilitated by the upcoming opening of U.S. customs pre-clearance at the Toronto Island airport, as announced by Roelof-Jan Steenstra, CEO of PortsToronto, during a recent press conference.
Once the pre-clearance facility becomes operational in the near future, passengers will have the convenience of clearing American customs before boarding their flights while still within Canadian territory. This strategic development aligns with current trends showing a decline in Canadian air travel to the U.S., as reported by Statistics Canada.
In response to the shifting travel landscape, Air Canada is not only introducing new U.S. routes but also increasing the frequency of flights on two domestic routes, with an additional daily flight to Montreal and two more to Ottawa. These services will utilize 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, according to the airline’s announcement.
