Air Canada Cuts Five US Routes Amid Weaker Demand

Air Canada has discontinued five US routes due to declining demand, though some will resume next year. The airline's transborder traffic fell 17% compared to the previous year, worse than the overall market decline. While some routes are set to return, others, like Montréal to New Orleans, struggled with low occupancy.

Simple Flying 18 August 2026 Source: Simple Flying

Airports Routes: Air Canada has discontinued five US routes due to declining demand, though some will resume next year

Air Canada, the dominant carrier between Canada and the US, has reduced its transborder network, cutting five routes due to weaker demand. The airline's US traffic dropped by 17% over the past year, a steeper decline than the overall Canada-US market (-12%) and WestJet (-21%). Despite these cuts, Air Canada remains the leading operator, with a 37% market share and 10.4 million round-trip passengers in the 12 months to May 2026.

## Discontinued Routes

An analysis of Air Canada's schedule changes reveals five US routes that have been suspended, though some are expected to resume later. The following markets were removed from the carrier's network:

| Route | Last Flight Date | Expected Resumption | |---|---|---| | Toronto (YYZ) - Salt Lake City (SLC) | July 2026 | June 2027 | | Montréal (YUL) - Seattle (SEA) | October 2025 | May 2027 | | Vancouver (YVR) - Raleigh-Durham (RDU) | July 2026 | May 2027 |

Additionally, Air Canada has permanently ceased operations between Montréal (YUL) and New Orleans (MSY). This route, which launched in February 2023, saw low occupancy, with an average load factor of just 67.7%. In January 2024, the load factor dropped to 43.9%, making the route unsustainable.

## Struggles on Core Routes

Even on its core Toronto (YYZ) route, Air Canada faced challenges. Over the two-plus years leading up to March 2025, the airline filled only 73.0% of available seats. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) noted that the cessation of YUL flights did not boost traffic from YYZ, partly due to a significant capacity reduction on that route.

## New Routes on the Horizon

Despite the cuts, Air Canada plans to reintroduce some suspended routes next year. The following services will resume:

| Route | Aircraft | Service Start | |---|---|---| | Toronto (YYZ) - Salt Lake City (SLC) | A220-300 | June 2027 | | Montréal (YUL) - Seattle (SEA) | A220-300 | May 2027 | | Vancouver (YVR) - Raleigh-Durham (RDU) | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | May 2027 |

Additionally, Air Canada will launch a new twice-weekly service from Montréal (YUL) to Fort Myers (RSW) on October 26, operated by the A220-300. This route was last served by the airline in 2023.