Air Canada Unveils Major International Expansion for Summer 2027

After a curious promotional campaign, Air Canada has announced a significant expansion of its international flight network by the summer of 2027, introducing five new international destinations, seven new routes, and increasing frequencies in several key markets.

From Vancouver, the company will operate year-round flights to Guangzhou, its third destination in mainland China. Flights will start on May 4, 2027, operating three times a week with Boeing 787 Dreamliners, connecting through Vancouver to other North American destinations.

From Toronto, Air Canada will launch seasonal flights to Oslo, Norway, Shannon, Ireland, and Nice, France. Flights to Oslo will begin on June 2, 2027, operating four times a week with Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The route to Shannon will start on June 10 and operate three times weekly, also using the A321XLR.

Oslo, Norway. Photo: Air Canada

The new Toronto-Nice route will begin on June 16, operating twice weekly with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Combined with existing flights from Montreal, this new service allows Air Canada to offer daily flights for travelers wishing to reach the French destination during the summer season.

Meanwhile, the company will resume its Daytripper service between Toronto and London Heathrow, increase the frequency of flights from Toronto to Shanghai to daily service, and operate the new year-round route to Guatemala City, starting December 2026.

Shannon, Ireland. Photo: Air Canada

From Montreal, Air Canada will begin flights to Basel, Switzerland, and Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Basel route will start on June 16, 2027, operating four times a week with Airbus A321XLR. The Dubrovnik route will begin on May 11, operating three times weekly with Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Additionally, the company plans to make flights from Montreal to Tenerife, Lima, and Guatemala City year-round routes.

Dubrovnik, Croatia. Photo: Air Canada

According to Air Canada, by summer 2027, the company will operate more than 125 international routes, with up to 169,000 weekly seats from Canada to more than 85 international destinations in Europe, Asia, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America. This represents an over 8% increase in seat-kilometer offering in these areas compared to summer 2026.

The network expansion is part of the company's growth plan, which it claims will create over 1,500 additional direct jobs by 2028 and increase its contribution to the Canadian GDP by more than $7 billion annually.

Air Canada aircraft. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK

Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and President of Cargo at Air Canada: "Summer 2027 marks the most extensive transcontinental expansion in Air Canada's history, solidifying our position as the second-largest North American airline by the number of international destinations served.

As Canada's flagship carrier, we continue to invest in strengthening connectivity and positioning the country as a central hub of international demand flows under our New Frontiers strategy. From the evolving trade center in the Pearl River Delta to the Adriatic Sea shores, each of our five new destinations and many schedule expansions support trade and tourism, creating new and exciting opportunities for people to explore the world".

The new destinations do not include the route to Tel Aviv, where the company's flights are canceled until mid-January 2027.