New routes to China, Ireland, France, Croatia, and Norway. New daytime flights from Toronto to London. And more flights to Shanghai, Lima and Tenerife.
Air Canada today (Sept. 3, 2026) announced a significant expansion of its global network for Summer 2027, adding five new international destinations and seven new routes, along with increased schedules on key routes.
From its Vancouver trans-Pacific hub, Air Canada will be launching year-round services to Guangzhou, China. From its Toronto global hub, Air Canada will begin service to Oslo, Norway; Shannon, Ireland; and Nice, France, while resuming the London Heathrow Daytripper, boosting its Shanghai flights to daily, and its new Guatemala City flights that begin this December will be year-round. From its Montréal trans-Atlantic hub, Air Canada will launch services to Basel, Switzerland; and Dubrovnik, Croatia, while its Tenerife, Lima and Guatemala City flights will extend to year-round.
The lovely town of Doolin, Ireland. Jim Byers Photo
The added flights to China are key for both leisure and business travel, while Europe lovers will be very happy about new, direct routes to Norway, Croatia, Ireland, France and Switzerland. As someone who prefers not to fly overnight, I LOVE the idea of the Daytripper from Toronto to London Heathrow, which will depart at 8:30 and land in England at a very reasonable 9 p.m.
Air Canada says the new routes support its long-term growth strategy, which it expects to create more than 1,500 additional direct jobs by 2028, while growing the airline’s GDP contribution in Canada by over $7 billion per year.
“Summer 2027 marks the most extensive intercontinental expansion in Air Canada’s history, cementing our position as the second largest North American carrier by global destinations served,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo at Air Canada. “As Canada’s flag carrier, we are further investing to better connect and position our country as an important intersection of major international demand flows under our New Frontiers strategy.
‘From the expansive trade hub in the Pearl River Delta to the relaxing Adriatic coastline, each of our five new destinations and many schedule enhancements support commerce and tourism and create exciting new opportunities for people to explore the world.”
“Overall, our schedule reflects our commitment to championing Canada around the world, leveraging the opportunities enabled by a growing, next-generation fleet of Airbus A321XLR and wide-body aircraft, the far-reaching networks we have built at our three Canadian hubs, and the continued loyalty of our customers and Aeroplan members,” Galardo said. “Importantly, our strategy and growth support jobs and trade, connects people and bridges the six inhabited continents via Canada.
Basel, Switzerland.
“With more new aircraft arriving shortly, expect even more exciting network announcements and details regarding our initial Boeing 787-10 operations from Air Canada in the coming months.”
For summer 2027, Air Canada plans to operate more than 125 international routes, representing up to 169,000 seats weekly from Canada to more than 85 international destinations across the Atlantic, Pacific, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. This represents a more than eight per cent increase in available seat miles in these regions over summer 2026.
Stats Canada figures for the past year or more have shown a consistent drop in air travel from Canada to the US, but a significant increase in air travel to overseas destinations.
SKYSCANNER TRAVEL TIPS FOR OCTOBER: FLIGHT DEALS TO TOP DESTINATIONS
Skyscanner has issued its October travel hacks, including the cheapest flights to top destinations such as Saint Lucia and Jamaica.
Hack #1: Best Time to Book Flights
Save big on airfare this month! Skyscanner data shows the best time to book flights for October.
- This handy tool will tell Canadians when the best time is to book flights for travel to October hotspots in India, like New Delhi and Bengaluru.
- Travellers travelling from Toronto to New Delhi in October typically see the biggest savings when booking exactly 7 weeks ahead of their trip.
- Flying out on the week of the 4th of October or the 18th of October instead of the 1st, 11th, or 25th of October could help you save on airfare.
Fort Rodney, Saint Lucia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Hack #2: Cheapest Destinations This Month
Want an affordable getaway? These are the cheapest destinations for Canadian travellers in October:
- Toronto to Castries, St. Lucia: Roundtrip flights starting from $340
- Calgary to Liberia, Costa Rica: Roundtrip flights starting from $345
- Thunder Bay to Montego Bay, Jamaica: Roundtrip flights starting from $393
Hack #3: Trending Routes and Car Rental Tips
These travel routes are trending this month – get there and explore with ease
- Mexico City, Mexico: Hire a car in Mexico City from $12
- A rental car opens up central Mexico beyond the capital, with popular road trip stops including the pyramids of Teotihuacán, the colonial city of Puebla, the colourful town of Taxco and the mountain town of Tepoztlán. October is an especially fun time to visit, as Día de los Muertos celebrations begin toward the end of the month. With a car, travellers can combine cultural sights, historic towns and outdoor escapes at their own pace.
- San José, Costa Rica: Hire a car in San José from $8
- October can be a great-value time for a Costa Rica road trip, with rental cars averaging around C$55 per day. From San José, travellers can head towards the Arenal region, explore the lush landscapes around Sarapiquí, then continue to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast for stops in Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. October is particularly good for exploring the Caribbean side, where conditions are generally drier than on the Pacific coast.
- Seville, Spain: Hire a car in Seville from $36
- A rental car makes Seville a convenient starting point for an Andalusian road trip, connecting the city with Córdoba, Ronda, Granada and the region’s famous white villages. October brings more comfortable temperatures after the heat of summer, making it easier to spend time exploring historic towns, scenic countryside and coastal stops. Travellers can build a flexible loop through southern Spain without being tied to train schedules
Hack #4: How to Save on Hotels
Looking for the perfect stay?
- Hotels can be cheaper when booked early. But for popular October destinations, Skyscanner’s comparison tool makes it easy to compare properties and prices. When you click on a hotel property, scroll down to see offers from all the major sites to make sure you’re getting the lowest rate.
- Pro Tip: Use Skyscanner’s filters to find the best hotel deals by sorting by guest ratings, star categories, and lowest price to get the best value for your stay.
