Air Canada has doubled the size of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) in downtown Toronto and added four new US routes.
The expansion will begin on March 29, 2026, and will see the Star Alliance airline fly the first non-stop flight in the United States from YTZ to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) aboard a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400. The route is made possible thanks to the opening of a new pre-clearance facility at Toronto Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, allowing passengers traveling to the U.S. to clear immigration and customs procedures in Canada before boarding their flight.
Air Canada will then fly YTZ to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., in June and July
The airline will also add flights from YTZ to Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Ottawa International Airport (YOW) in January 2026.
“We have a massive, bold expansion at YTZ,” Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s chief commercial officer, told TPG in an interview Thursday. “We have literally doubled the capacity of that airport.”
Schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirum confirms this: Air Canada is offering 12 daily flights from YTZ today, which will increase to 25 daily under expansion plans announced Thursday.
Cirium timetables show that YTZ’s largest airline, Porter Airlines, has an average of 41 flights per day from the airport.
YTZ is located on an island just minutes from downtown Toronto. Travelers can reach the mainland via an underground pedestrian tunnel or by ferry, which travels 400 feet between the city center terminal and the airport and takes about 90 seconds.
U.S. expands despite uncertainty
The new direct flights from YTZ to the United States are launched at a time of market uncertainty. The Trump administration’s annexation and trade rhetoric angered many Canadians this spring and prompted some tourists to look elsewhere for upcoming trips.
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Data from the U.S. International Trade Administration shows that the number of Canadians flying into the United States fell by nearly 12 per cent in the first seven months of this year compared with the same period in 2024. Overall, foreign travelers flying to the United States fell only 3%.
“While Canadian travel to the U.S. has slowed, primarily for leisure purposes, there has not been a significant slowdown in Canadian business travel to the U.S., nor has there been a significant slowdown in U.S. travel to Canada,” Gallardo said when asked about market dynamics. “For all intents and purposes, the Canada-U.S. corridor remains a pretty robust corridor.”
Gallardo added that Air Canada has been planning new U.S. flights for some time and has a large and loyal customer base in Toronto, giving the airline confidence in its new YTZ flights, which will rely on local travelers rather than connecting passengers.
Air Canada is adding 10 to 15 new U.S. airports to its map to support its booming “sixth freedom” business. Sixth freedom travel refers to travelers who depart from one country, transfer to a second country, and arrive at a third country. For Air Canada, that means connections through its hubs at YUL, Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia. An example of such a trip is a passenger flying from San Luis Lambert International Airport (STL) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) via YYZ or YUL.
In September, Air Canada announced its return to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and new routes to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio.
Even after doubling in size at YTZ, Air Canada may not be done growing there. Gallardo said if the current expansion goes well, future flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), both of which are already operational, may be possible.
When asked about the airline’s choice of IAD over DCA, which is just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Galardo said it was to connect to partner United Airlines’ large hub at IAD.
YTZ’s new pre-clearance facility, required for Air Canada’s new LGA flights (and potentially DCA flights), is scheduled to open in late Q1 or early Q2 2026.
Compete with Canada’s most popular speakers
Air Canada’s new flights will go head-to-head with YTZ’s home carrier Porter Airlines. The only route not served by Porter, known for its raccoon endorsements, is LGA, although Porter flies to LGA from Toronto’s larger YYZ airport.
Porter serves the New York area from YTZ via Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which, unlike LGA, has customs and immigration facilities for international flights.
“Competition is a sign of a healthy, vibrant market,” Gallardo said when asked about Porter. “There’s a large segment of travelers who are loyal to the Air Canada brand and want Air Canada service at a city-center airport, and that’s who we’re targeting.”
In fact, YTZ’s added pre-clearance facilities open up LGA and many other potential U.S. routes that Porter now has the option to serve from city center airports.
READ MORE: Air Canada bans alcohol on all flights, bowing to pressure from passengers at major rivals
Air Canada will offer all passengers flying from YTZ the same complimentary snacks and beverages as on Porter flights, including wine and beer. The airline is also offering access to YTZ’s Aspire Air Canada Café Lounge to all eligible travelers, including certain Air Canada Aeroplan elite loyalty members and Star Alliance Gold members.
The airline also highlighted that it is the only airline to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi at airports. Porter currently does not offer Wi-Fi on flight 8-400 from YTZ.
“YTZ remains the focal point of Porter’s regional network, currently with 15 nonstop routes,” a Porter spokesperson said in an email. “We will continue to consider opportunities to add flights at Billy Bishop Airport as we build a highly integrated network across North America. Porter Airport’s continued growth and unique service standards are clearly disrupting competition, resulting in significant benefits for travelers.”
Porter, for its part, is entering into a new partnership with American Airlines, which many suspect could add new nonstop flights from YTZ to American Airlines hubs such as PHL.
Air Canada new Toronto route details
Galardo said Air Canada’s current focus is YTZ’s expansion plans announced Thursday. He postponed any specific questions about growth and aircraft (YTZ only allows turboprops like the 8-400) to a future date.
“There’s always a list of things to do,” he said.
In the meantime, here are the details for Air Canada’s new nonstop U.S. flights from YTZ:
- YTZ-LGA: 4 flights daily from March 29, 2026
- YTZ-ORD: Two flights daily from June 1, 2026
- YTZ-IAD: One flight per day from June 1, 2026
- YTZ-BOS: 3 flights per day from July 1, 2026
All four routes will be operated in partnership with United Airlines. Air Canada and United form joint venture partnership covering all flights between Canada and the U.S.
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