Air Canada is adjusting its flight schedules to the United States due to increased jet fuel expenses and decreased demand for travel to American destinations. The airline is making changes to eight transborder routes, with some being suspended or delayed starting in the upcoming fall season.
For the second consecutive winter, three routes from Toronto and Montreal to cities in the American Midwest will be canceled. Additionally, three seasonal routes from Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City to Florida will now begin in December instead of October. Two routes from Montreal and Toronto to New York’s JFK airport, previously suspended, will also not resume operation this winter.
Earlier this year, Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat reduced their summer flight capacities to the U.S. due to surging jet fuel prices caused by the Iran conflict, resulting in certain routes becoming unprofitable.
Statistics Canada’s preliminary data indicate a 28% decline in the number of Canadians flying back from the U.S., totaling less than 462,000 passengers between May 2024 and May of this year.
Angela Mah, an Air Canada spokesperson, mentioned that the airline routinely evaluates its flight schedules to match customer demand and seasonal travel trends. She noted that Air Canada plans to reinstate service to JFK in the future and intends to enhance its New York presence by offering up to five daily flights between Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport and LaGuardia Airport during the upcoming winter season.