Air Canada has on May 25 unveiled a strategic expansion of its winter sun network, which will bring new routes to the table and increase capacity on select services.
Thus far, Air Canada has seen substantial interest in leisure travel in the winter season and will serve up to 683 weekly flights this winter after what is currently planned.
Raising Demand
The Canadian flag carrier has, as mentioned, seen strong interest in leisure travel this winter season, and with 683 weekly flights planned, Air Canada is looking to a good winter season later this year.
On the spiked interest in leisure travel, Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, said:
“We are seeing strong, ongoing interest for winter leisure travel, and as the leading carrier from Canada to popular sun destinations with up to 683 weekly flights planned this winter, we are thrilled to add exciting new services from Toronto and Montreal to the Caribbean and Mexico and significant increases from our Vancouver hub in response to pent up demand.”
“With the most flights to choose from coast to coast this winter to popular leisure sun destinations and convenient travel package options through Air Canada Vacations, customers can begin booking their vacation to their preferred destination now,”
“Air Canada continues implementing its global network strategy and has extended several European routes to year-round, including Toulouse, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Rome, Madrid, and Copenhagen.”
“We have optimized our schedule to conveniently connect Europe to popular leisure destinations in Florida and Mexico, enabling customers from Spain, France, Italy, the UK, and Denmark to enjoy one-stop travel to sought-after North American vacation destinations this winter. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard,” Galardo concluded.
The company’s winter sun schedule anticipates a capacity increase of 11% from 2022 statistics and plans to operate 8% more than the 2019 pre-pandemic sun schedule.
This year’s highlights include 20 new routes from across Canada to Florida, an increased number of services between Canada and Cancun, Montreal to Palm Beach, Toronto to Fort Myers, and more.
New Routes on the Table
With this announcement comes new routes, and Toronto (YYZ), together with Montreal (YUL) will see four new services from the season start.
First out to be commenced, Toronto to Monterrey, Mexico – a new year-round service. Starting October 29, Air Canada will commence a four-times-weekly service from Toronto Pearson Int’l Airport to Monterrey (MTY) in Mexico.
The flights will run Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, with returns followed the next day. With this, Air Canada becomes the only Canadian airline to offer flights between Canada and Monterrey.
Also starting out of Toronto is Air Canada’s seasonal service to Fort-de-France, Martinique. As of December 16, the company will operate one flight per week to the Martinique Aime Cesaire Int’l Airport (FDF). The flights will take place on Saturdays.
In total, this winter season, Air Canada will operate seven flights weekly across Canada to the destination. Thus far, Air Canada is the leading carrier between Canada and the French Caribbean.
Montreal Pierre Elliot Trudeau Int’l Airport (YUL) will also, as mentioned, see two new routes this winter season.
As of December 1, Air Canada will be operating one time per week from Montreal to Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD), and will cater the services from Toronto and Vancouver to the same destination.
The flight will be operated on Fridays with a same-day return.
Last on the list, out of Montreal, is the new seasonal service to La Romana, Dominican Republic. From Montreal (YUL), the flight will be operated once per week on Sundays to the La Romana Int’l Airport (LRM).
The route is due to start on December 17 and will also feature a same-day return.
Increased Capacity for Air Canada…
Air Canada has, with this announcement, also increased its frequencies on select routes – those being as follows from Vancouver (YVR):
On a Canadian-wide basis, the frequency increase is as follows:
| Route | Increase from 2022 |
| Halifax-Cancun | 3 weekly flights (up from 2) |
| Montreal-Cancun | 14 weekly flights (up from 11) |
| Montreal-Barbados | 4 weekly flights (up from 3) |
| Montreal-Fort-de-France | 6 weekly flights (up from 4) |
| Montreal-Miami | 14 weekly flights (up from 11) |
| Montreal-Orlando | +45% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Montreal-Palm Beach | 4 weekly flights (up from 2) |
| Montreal-Pointe-a-Pitre | 6 weekly flights (up from 5) |
| Montreal- Puerto Plata | 1 weekly flight (resumption) |
| Montreal-Turks and Caicos | +30% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Quebec City-Cancun | 4 weekly flights (up from 3) |
| Ottawa-Cancun | 3 weekly flights (up from 2) |
| Ottawa-Punta Cana | 4 weekly flights (up from 2) |
| Toronto-Antigua | +60% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Toronto-Bermuda | 3 weekly flights (up from 2) |
| Toronto-Cancun | 21 weekly flights (up from 11) |
| Toronto-Cayo Coco | +56% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Toronto-Curacao | +52% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Toronto-Fort Myers | 21 weekly flights (up from 14) |
| Toronto-Grenada | 4 weekly flights (up from 2) |
| Toronto-Huatulco | +62% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Toronto-Port of Spain | 4 weekly flights (resumption) |
| Toronto-Punta Cana | 14 weekly flights (up from 10) |
| Toronto- Saint Vincent | 4 weekly flights (up from 2) |
| Toronto-Saint Lucia | 7 weekly flights (up from 6) |
| Toronto-Saint Kitts and Nevis | +35% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Toronto-Sint Maarten | 2 weekly flights (up from 1) |
| Toronto-Turks and Caicos | +22% capacity increase with larger aircraft |
| Edmonton-Cancun | 3 weekly flights (up from 2) |
