Air Canada launches U.S. flights in major expansion at Billy Bishop Airport

Air Canada today unveiled a major expansion today (Oct. 23) at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with new transborder routes to four major U.S. cities and increased daily flights to Montréal and Ottawa.

Air Canada shared that new services, with frequencies favourable to business travel, further heighten the customer experience at Billy Bishop airport, including the introduction this month of fast, free onboard Wi-Fi, complimentary onboard premium snacks, beer and wine, and exclusive access to the Aspire Air Canada Café for eligible domestic customers.

Beginning in Spring 2026, Air Canada will launch new, non-stop return service four-times-daily to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, three-times-daily to Boston Logan International Airport, twice-daily to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and daily to Washington Dulles International Airport.

Most significant expansion at Toronto Island

The start of transborder services from Billy Bishop will follow the opening of U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance at the island airport, a convenience for customers flying to U.S. airports from Canada that allows them to clear U.S. customs before departure.

In addition, beginning in January 2026, Air Canada said it will expand its daily services in Canada’s busiest domestic travel corridors by increasing the frequency of return flights to Montréal to nine from eight, and to six from four to Ottawa.

Mark Galardo, Air Canada's executive vice president and chief commercial officer, as well as president of Cargo, emphasized that this expansion marks "our most significant expansion at Toronto Island since Air Canada first served the airport 35 years ago." 

He further explained that the new transborder routes would "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."

Galardo also pointed out that the airline is increasing the daily frequency of return flights from Toronto to Montréal and Ottawa, describing these routes as "Canada’s most heavily travelled corridors for business traffic" - all new services that Galardo says reflects the airline's commitment to enhancing the customer experience at Billy Bishop Airport.

The airline noted that its flights are the only ones departing from Toronto Island to offer travellers the productivity tool of fast, free in-flight Wi-Fi, along with the comforts of the Aspire Air Canada Café.

According to Air Canada, the lounge provides a quiet space for eligible domestic customers to work or recharge before their flight. Additionally, all customers can enjoy complimentary premium snacks, beer, and wine on board.

“Our expanded services at the island complement our already extensive services from Toronto Pearson where we will operate more than 600 return flights a day to 124 destinations next summer. This expansion ensures the Greater Toronto Area and beyond are highly connected for business and leisure travel, making Air Canada the preferred choice for travel to and from the GTA,” added Galardo.

RJ Steenstra, President & CEO of PortsToronto, called Air Canada's expanded routes a milestone, emphasizing their role in strengthening Toronto's business and leisure appeal.

"This expansion of routes not only continues to strengthen Toronto as a place for business and leisure, but also reflects confidence in Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport’s role as a gateway to the future of passenger-centric urban air travel,” stated Steenstra.

“Today’s announcement represents a new era of business and leisure travel convenience, comfort and accessibility at Billy Bishop Airport,” says Jennifer Quinn, CEO, Nieuport Aviation.

“Made possible next year by our new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility, we will offer more destinations within reach, further strengthening our role in connecting communities and driving economic growth across Ontario and Canada,” concluded Quinn.

The Honourable Steve MacKinnon, Federal Minister of Transport, and the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario Minister of Transportation, praised Air Canada's expansion, noting it will enhance regional connectivity, support business growth, and improve travel options for Ontarians.  

New transborder flights

Air Canada’s new services from Toronto Island airport to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport will begin in Spring 2026.

With return service up to four times daily, the new routes will make it convenient to travel between the core of Canada’s financial capital and these major American markets for a quick business trip or more extended visit.

All flights are operated as Air Canada Express, by Air Canada’s regional partner Jazz Aviation LP, using a 78-seat, De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. Flights from Toronto Island (YTZ) to:

New York LaGuardia (LGA) begins March 29, 2026

Boston Logan (BOS) begins July 1, 2026

Chicago O’Hare (ORD) begins June 1, 2026

Washington Dulles (IAD) begins June 1, 2026

Increased service to Montréal, Ottawa

In January 2026, Air Canada will add new daily flights from Toronto Island in the popular and heavily travelled Eastern Triangle of Canada.

This includes an additional flight to Montréal, bringing the service to nine return flights daily.

Between the island and Ottawa, the carrier is adding two frequencies to bring to six the number of total daily return trips to the nation's capital from Billy Bishop.

Elevating the Billy Bishop travel experience

Beginning in October 2025, Air Canada said it was the first airline to offer fast, free Wi-Fi in-flight to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport travellers.

The "industry-leading service" provides high-quality Internet to give customers gate-to-gate connectivity and non-stop access to productivity tools while travelling on Air Canada Express flights to and from the city airport on some of the most popular business travel routes in Canada and next year to the U.S.

According to Air Canada, it is the first time Wi-Fi has been made available on a De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft type anywhere in the world.

The introduction of fast, free Wi-Fi complements the other amenities Air Canada customers flying from Billy Bishop now enjoy, including frequent departures, complimentary in-flight premium snacks, beer and wine, and exclusive access for eligible domestic customers to the Aspire Air Canada Café.

Regional flying reimagined

A full cabin redesign will soon be commenced on 25 De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft operated for Air Canada Express by Jazz. The program includes:

New Seating

Twenty-five Dash 8-400 operated for Air Canada Express by Jazz will be equipped with next generation, well-padded, ergonomic reclining seats from Expliseat.

The seats will feature new branding and design language expressed through the seat’s dress cover.

All seats will include a seatback multi-use device holder for tablets and phones, as well as a table tray. The installation of the new seating has an expected completion date for the program in mid-2026. Each aircraft will have 78 seats, and pitch will be unchanged.

Cabin Interior Redesign

The cabins of these same 25 Dash 8-400s will be upgraded to a new standard reflective of Air Canada ’s mainline aircraft interiors.

The design incorporates colors, textures and tones of those found in Canadian nature, reinforcing Air Canada’s pride in being the nation’s flag carrier.

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