The deepening worldwide jet fuel crisis has forced Canada’s largest airline to pause several routes, amounting to some 1% of available seat miles.
Open Jaw earlier today reported that Air Canada was trimming three flights a day between YYZ and JFK, and one per day between YUL and JFK. Those are cancelled as of 01JUN, 2026, with plans to restart on 25OCT, 2026.
This evening the airline put out a statement saying many more flights have been cancelled or postponed.
“As we regularly do, we monitor and review our network to ensure that routes are meeting profitability targets. Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, affecting some lower profitability routes and flights which now are no longer economically feasible. Schedule adjustments including some frequency reductions are being made in response,” Air Canada said.
The following route suspensions are also in effect as a result:
Domestic Canada:
- Fort McMurray-Vancouver: route suspended effective 28MAY, 2026
- Yellowknife-Toronto: route suspended effective 30AUG, 2026
Transborder:
- SLC-Toronto: temporary route suspension effective 30JUN, 2026, with plans to resume in 2027.
- JFK-Toronto: temporary suspension effective 01JUN, 2026, with plans to resume 25OCT 2026
- JFK-Montreal: temporary suspension effective 01JUN, 2026, with plans to resume 25OCT, 2026
International:
- Guadalajara (GDL)-YUL: route planned to launch now suspended
Air Canada said affected customers will be contacted with alternate travel options.
The airline said the total impact to Air Canada’s planned capacity is approximately 1% of annual ASMs.
Earlier this week, Air Canada announced it was introducing higher bag fees for some flights in response the high price of jet fuel.
The Toronto Star quoted Air Transat officials as saying they have no plans to reduce, consolidate or cancel flights because of fuel constraints. But they said they’re closely monitoring global fuel market developments and the situation is volatile.
Porter Airlines told the Star it hasn’t adjusted its flight schedules due to fuel prices.
As reported by Open Jaw, WestJet Group recently announced fuel surcharges on some flights and vacation packages. Flair Airlines has also added fuel surcharges on many routes.
European carriers also have begun to phase out uneconomical routes.
