YQB to offer 376,456 more seats, unlocking more destinations

Never before have so many seats been available on flights departing from Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB).

In 2026, capacity will be 15 per cent higher than in 2025, with that percentage reaching nearly 25 per cent over the summer season— a record increase among Canadian major airports.

In concrete terms, this means that 376,456 additional seats (2,965,889 in total) will be available for travellers from the region and all over Quebec.

"Passengers wanted more destinations, more flights. and more seats,” said Stéphane Poirier, president and CEO of YQB, in a press release.

“We heard them, and thanks to our excellent relationships with the airlines, that is exactly what they are getting. This achievement was also made possible by a collaborative approach that rallies all of the regional stakeholders, opening the door to new opportunities.”

“Now it's up to all of us to prove that the airlines were right to believe in our market, by showing up to ensure these routes continue."

More destinations & frequent flights

The summer of 2026 will bring a major improvement for people travelling through YQB.

Passengers will be able to enjoy more destinations, more frequent flights, and more varied options than ever.

New international destinations added include Nantes, Marseille, and Washington. Flights and capacity have also been added for strategic hubs like Vancouver, Paris, and Calgary.

Year-round flights are also offered to Fort-de-France, Martinique; travellers will see the return of Porter’s flight to Toronto (Pearson) and see the addition of an American Airlines flight to New York (JFK)

The number of seats offered at YQB has also grown by 27 per cent overall since the pre-pandemic years (2019).

More specifically, it has grown by 44 per cent for cross-border flights (to the United States), 111 per cent for international flights and nine per cent for domestic flights (within Canada).

YQB says it is aiming to receive 2.4 million passengers by 2030.

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