Air Canada is making a big move at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with new US routes and expanded domestic service in its “most significant expansion at Toronto Island” in 35 years.
Beginning Spring 2026, Air Canada will launch new service from Billy Bishop to New York (LaGuardia), Boston (Logan), Washington, D.C. (Dulles) and Chicago (O’Hare).
The nation's largest airline will also increase its domestic schedule from YTZ starting January 2026, expanding to nine daily flights to Montréal and six to Ottawa, Canada’s busiest travel corridors.
Air Canada currently operates about 12 daily flights from the relatively small airport. The planned expansion would add 20 more daily flights, sure to raise concerns over noise and future growth at the downtown airport. Like Porter Airlines, the main carrier at Billy Bishop, Air Canada uses Bombardier Q400 turboprops, seating about 78 passengers, as YTZ runways can't accommodate jets.
Combined with its Toronto Pearson operations, next summer Air Canada will offer more than 600 daily flights to 124 destinations.
All flights from YTZ will feature fast, free onboard Wi-Fi, premium snacks, beer and wine, and access to the Aspire Air Canada Café for eligible customers. Customers will also benefit from US Customs Pre-Clearance, allowing travellers to clear customs before departure—a key time-saver for business travellers.
“This is our most significant expansion at Toronto Island since Air Canada first served the airport 35 years ago,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo. “The new transborder routes will especially benefit our loyal customers and business travellers by creating frequent and easy connections between the heart of Canada’s financial capital and the major markets of New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago.”
“These exciting new services reflect Air Canada’s commitment to further elevate the customer experience at Billy Bishop Airport,” Galardo continued. “Our flights are the only ones from Toronto Island to offer travellers the productivity tool of fast, free in-flight Wi-Fi and the comforts of the Aspire Air Canada Café, a quiet space for eligible domestic customers to work or recharge prior to their flight.”
RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of PortsToronto, which owns and operates Billy Bishop Airport, welcomed the move.
"This expansion of routes not only continues to strengthen Toronto’s place for business and leisure, but also reflects confidence in Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport’s role as a gateway to the future of passenger-centric urban air travel," said Steenstra.
Jennifer Quinn, CEO of Nieuport Aviation, the company that owns and operates YTZ's passenger terminal, called it “a new era of business and leisure travel convenience, comfort and accessibility.”
She added: “Made possible next year by our new US Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility, we will offer more destinations within reach, further strengthening our role in connecting communities and driving economic growth across Ontario and Canada."
With Porter Airlines launching service from Toronto Pearson in 2023, Air Canada’s new Billy Bishop flights also reflect a competitive maneuver.
Robert Kokonis, president of Toronto-based AirTrav Inc., told Open Jaw that it could “possibly be a move to do damage to Porter.”
Porter Airlines responded to its competitor announcing the news on its 19th anniversary, writing on Instagram: "Hey Air Canada - you just showed up at our birthday party today with no gift (how rude!) and a lot more talk about trying to match what we've been doing for 19 years. No cake for you!" The post garnered over 1,700 likes within an hour.
Air Canada, meanwhile, garnered praise from federal and provincial leaders.
“With Air Canada’s new flights from Billy Bishop Airport to the US, along with increased flight frequency from Toronto to Ottawa and Montréal, we’re strengthening regional and cross-border connectivity," said Steve MacKinnon, Canada's Minister of Transport, "These additions will make travel more convenient, help connect families across distances, support business growth and enhance service quality for Canadian travellers.”
"This expansion not only strengthens connectivity but supports economic growth, tourism and business opportunities across Canada and the United States," added Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Prabmeet Sarkaria. “Toronto is a key hub for travel, and this critical expansion at Billy Bishop Airport will provide more options for Ontarians."
