Air Canada to launch U.S. flights from Toronto Island, marking major expansion at Billy Bishop Airport

Air Canada announced a major expansion at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), unveiling new transborder routes to four major U.S. cities — New York (LaGuardia), Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. — along with increased frequencies to Montréal and Ottawa beginning in 2026.

The new services, tailored for business and frequent travellers, will begin after the opening of U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance at Billy Bishop. The routes will be operated by Air Canada Express (Jazz Aviation) using 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, featuring the world’s first fast, free Wi-Fi on this aircraft type, complimentary premium snacks, beer and wine, and access to the Aspire Air Canada Café for eligible passengers.

Starting Spring 2026, Air Canada will offer:

• Four daily flights to New York LaGuardia (from March 29)
• Three daily flights to Boston Logan (from July 1)
• Two daily flights to Chicago O’Hare (from June 1)
• One daily flight to Washington Dulles (from June 1)

Domestically, the carrier will increase service to Montréal to nine daily round trips and to Ottawa to six starting January 2026.

Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, said the move marks Air Canada’s largest expansion at Billy Bishop in 35 years, enhancing connectivity between Toronto’s downtown and key U.S. and Canadian business centers.

The announcement comes as part of Air Canada’s broader strategy to strengthen its Greater Toronto Area network, complementing its 600+ daily flights from Toronto Pearson to more than 120 destinations worldwide by next summer.

Billy Bishop operators PortsToronto and Nieuport Aviation, along with Canadian government officials, hailed the move as a milestone for urban air travel, boosting connectivity, convenience, and economic growth for the Toronto region.