Photo: Air Canada Air Canada is promoting its expanded winter schedule as new research suggests Canadian travelers are looking for both relaxing getaways and destinations they have yet to discover.
An Ipsos survey commissioned by the airline found that 72% of respondents who travel in fall or winter consider relaxation and recharging important when choosing a destination.
Meanwhile, 55% said there are still many winter destinations they have not explored, and 36% said the possibility of finding a new favorite is a reason to try somewhere different.
The survey also found that unfamiliarity remains a consideration for some travelers. Some 37% of respondents said Central and South American destinations, including Colombia and Peru, felt unfamiliar but were places they would like to visit. A further 33% expressed similar views about long-haul destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Hawaii topped the list of destinations Canadians are considering for future winter trips, cited by 49% of respondents, followed by Costa Rica at 47% and Australia at 41%.
The findings come as Air Canada expands its winter network with routes to destinations including Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands, Roatán in Honduras, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Mérida in Mexico and Mazatlán on Mexico's Pacific coast.
Tenerife. Photo: Salvador Aznar / Shutterstock.comThe airline's previously announced winter schedule also includes additional seasonal services from several Canadian cities. From Montréal, travelers will have access to Tenerife, Roatán, Santo Domingo, Quito and Aruba. Toronto's seasonal offerings include Tenerife, Roatán, Quito and Mérida, while Vancouver will have services to Mazatlán, Monterrey, Liberia and Puerto Escondido.
Other additions include Cancún and Puerto Vallarta from Calgary, Montego Bay from Edmonton, Montego Bay and Punta Cana from Winnipeg, Pointe-à-Pitre from Québec City, and Bridgetown from Halifax.
Air Canada also serves longer-haul destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Bangkok, Manila, Sydney and Buenos Aires, alongside established holiday markets across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.
Mark Galardo, Air Canada's executive vice president and chief commercial officer and president of cargo, said the expanded network aims to give travelers more nonstop options while continuing to serve destinations they regularly visit.
The Ipsos survey was conducted online between September 8 and 11, 2026, among 2,001 Canadian adults. Of those, 1,101 identified as fall or winter travelers and completed the travel-related questions. The stated credibility interval is plus or minus