Air Canada has announced a major expansion of its global network, with new routes and additional services to Europe, Asia and Latin America set to launch in summer 2027.
The airline will introduce five new international destinations and seven new routes, as well as increased frequencies on key services. This expansion will be supported by Air Canada’s growing fleet of next-generation Airbus A321XLR and wide-body aircraft. It has described the move as the largest intercontinental expansion in its history.
In Asia, a new year-round service will be inaugurated between Vancouver and Guangzhou in China, while the number of flights between Toronto and Shanghai will increase to one per day. The Guangzhou route is set to begin on 4 May 2027, making Air Canada the only North American carrier to serve this Chinese city.
Guangzhou will become Air Canada’s third destination in mainland China; the first two are Beijing and Shanghai. This will increase the weekly frequency to the three cities to 24.
The airline will also expand its European network to include flights from Toronto to Oslo in Norway, Shannon in Ireland, and Nice in France. The airline also plans to resume its London Heathrow Daytripper Service.
Travellers from Montreal will benefit from direct flights to Basel, Switzerland and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Meanwhile, existing services from Montreal to Tenerife, Lima and Guatemala City will be extended to year-round operations. A new Toronto–Guatemala City service, due to launch in December 2026, will also operate year-round from May 2027.
Can you guess where we’re headed? 👀
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) September 1, 2026
Five new destinations are taking off next summer. See if you can spot the clues! Think you’ve figured it out? Share your guesses in the comments. Check back on Sept. 3rd to see we're headed.
Learn more: https://t.co/kB2amdQZkU pic.twitter.com/qB39Rizl5K
This expansion is part of Air Canada’s long-term growth strategy. Through this strategy, the airline expects to create more than 1,500 additional direct jobs by 2028, as well as increase its contribution to Canada’s GDP by over C$7 billion (around €4.4 billion) per year.
The company said it hoped to “cement”, by summer 2027, its position as the second-largest North American carrier by a number of global destinations served and better position the country “as an important intersection of major international demand flows under our New Frontiers strategy”, according to Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and President Cargo at Air Canada.
Galardo also promised further “exciting network announcements” in the coming months, highlighting the importance of the airline’s expansion and new routes in terms of “jobs and trade”, and emphasising that they will connect people across continents and build bridges.
By summer 2027, Air Canada plans to operate over 125 international routes, offering up to 169,000 seats per week from Canada to over 85 destinations across the Atlantic and Pacific, as well as to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. This represents an increase of more than 8% in available seat miles compared to summer 2026.
Government and airport stakeholders welcomed the expansion, pointing to its benefits for travellers and the country, as well as for businesses seeking easier access to new markets.
British Columbia Premier David Eby specifically highlighted the opportunities created by the new route to Guangzhou, following a recent government visit to the Chinese city aimed at diversifying the province’s international trade.
“Our government recently visited Guangzhou as part of our work to diversify trade around the world and promoted our strengths”, said Eby. “This new direct flight makes it faster and easier to do business with one of China’s largest economic hubs, helping to strengthen the economic ties between us during a time of global uncertainty.”
