Air Canada suspends int’l flights across 13 routes, grows Europe

Air Canada is removing 13 international routes from its network between April and September 2026 as it adjusts capacity in response to shifting travel demand, higher fuel costs, and operational pressures across multiple markets.

As reported by Aviation A2Z, Air Canada’s broader international expansion has been aided by the introduction of the Airbus A321XLR, while softer demand on some U.S. and Caribbean routes has prompted additional schedule changes.

Seven affected routes have been permanently discontinued after operating during portions of 2025.

According to Cirium-powered data, the routes include Ottawa–Tampa, Ottawa–Tulum, Quebec City–Tulum, Montreal–Algiers, Montreal–Bermuda, Montreal–Seattle, and Vancouver–Tampa.

Several of these services were seasonal and reportedly struggled with weaker passenger demand or stronger competition from rival airlines.

The Vancouver–Tampa route, which last operated in November, struggled immensely, Simple Flying pointed out, filling only 54 per cent of seats.  

The remaining six route suspensions involve Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge services to Cuba, affecting destinations including Cayo Coco, Varadero, Holguín, and Santa Clara from Montreal and Toronto Pearson.

Air Canada attributed the temporary pause to jet fuel shortages in Cuba, which the airline said are tied to wider fuel supply disruptions linked to geopolitical instability in the Middle East.

Unlike the permanently removed services, the Cuba routes, as PAX previously reported, are expected to return for the winter 2026 schedule, with operations tentatively planned to resume in late October. Although, schedules remain subject to change.

Despite the reductions, Air Canada continues pursuing growth elsewhere.

The airline’s Europe network is expected to expand by roughly six per cent year over year during summer 2026, supported largely by Airbus A321XLR deployment.

Meanwhile, Air Canada’s transborder U.S. network is expected to remain relatively unchanged amid softer demand from Canadians, with broader political and consumer travel trends also influencing network planning.

Shorter seasonal schedules

As previously reported, Air Canada is also scaling back service on several other international and U.S. routes, with reduced frequencies and shorter seasonal schedules across parts of its long-haul network.

Amid the rising cost of fuel, the adjustments include: 

• Montreal–Berlin: Seasonal service will now end Sept. 5
• Montreal–Copenhagen: Seasonal service will now end Sept. 3
• Toronto Pearson–Manchester: Reduced from four to three weekly flights from June 15 to Sept. 12
• Vancouver–Hong Kong: Reduced from daily service to six weekly flights from Sept. 8 to Oct. 2
• Vancouver–Manila: Reduced from four to three weekly flights from July 20 to Oct. 1
• Vancouver–Singapore: Reduced from four to three weekly flights from July 3–16 and Aug. 24–Sept. 25

The airline is also making frequency cuts on some 20 transborder routes, impacting destinations such as Austin, Charleston SC, Sacramento, Raleigh/Durham, San Francisco, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York (LaGuardia), Miami, Seattle and more.

Click here to see the complete list, compiled by Aeroroutes.

Canadian carriers slim down

Jet fuel costs have surged to more than twice what they were before the conflict in Iran began.

In response, Air Canada announced last month that it would temporarily halt flights from Toronto and Montreal to John F. Kennedy International Airport from June 1 through Oct. 25.

Looking south, Air Canada is also suspending its Toronto–Salt Lake City route as of June 30, with plans to potentially restart it next year.

READ MORE: Rising fuel costs cancel flights in Atlantic Canada; WestJet delays Medellin

On the international front, the carrier has cancelled its planned new nonstop service from Montreal to Guadalajara, which had been scheduled to launch on June 2.

The airline’s seasonal Montreal – Algiers route for the summer 2026 season has also been suspended.

"Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, affecting some lower profitability routes and flights which now are no longer economically feasible. Schedule adjustments including some frequency reductions are being made in response," reads a statement posted to the airline's website.

WestJet also plans to cut capacity to offset rising fuel expenses. The airline said it expects to reduce flights by roughly three per cent in May and close to six per cent in June, while continuing to review its summer schedule for possible additional cancellations.

Some of the latest cutbacks include the airline’s Moncton to Calgary flights.

Additionally, WestJet’s planned Toronto-Medellin service for 2026, which was initially scheduled from April 28 to October 24, 2026, has been shortened to the period of June 25 to September 5.

Air Transat, too, has reduced planned capacity by six per cent from May to October, with the extended suspension of its Cuba service through October accounting for most of that reduction.

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