Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Air Canada Doubles Presence at Toronto’s Billy Bishop With Four U.S. Routes Starting in 2026

The move hinges on a new U.S. preclearance facility to unlock downtown-focused business travel.

Overview

  • Nonstops to New York-LaGuardia, Boston, Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles begin in phases from March 29 to July 1, 2026, with up to four daily flights to LaGuardia and three to Boston.
  • The transborder launch depends on U.S. Customs preclearance opening at Billy Bishop, which officials expect by late first or early second quarter of 2026.
  • All flights will operate as Air Canada Express by Jazz using 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops, consistent with the airport’s turboprop-only restrictions.
  • Domestic service will increase in January 2026 to nine daily returns for Montréal and six for Ottawa from the downtown airport.
  • Schedules indicate Air Canada’s daily departures at Billy Bishop will grow from roughly 12 to about 25, intensifying competition with Porter as the carrier targets resilient business demand despite weaker Canadian leisure travel to the U.S.