Air Canada has unveiled a major expansion to its global network for the upcoming 2026 summer schedule, adding both new and returning destinations across Europe and expanding flights to Asia. This announcement comes as Air Canada continues to leverage the recovery in international demand, which has shown sustained growth since travel restrictions were lifted.
The new services include routes from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver to several international markets, including Catania, Budapest, and Bangkok. The carrier will also be returning to destinations like Shanghai, with the mix of new and returning routes reflecting Air Canada’s focus on both seizing emerging opportunities and reconnecting passengers to markets where demand has grown significantly.
Air Canada’s Transatlantic Expansion
Europe remains at the center of Air Canada’s summer 2026 expansion. The airline is launching three new routes, primarily from its Montreal hub. Most notably, Montreal will be connected to Catania, Italy, with thrice weekly flights commencing on June 4 and ending October 22, 2026. These flights will be operated by Air Canada’s Boeing 787 aircraft.
Beginning on June 17, 2026, Air Canada will also connect Montreal with Mallorca, Spain. This route will be flown by the Airbus A321XLR four times a week, and will run from June 17, 2026, to October 23, 2026. This short route with low demand is almost tailor-made for the A321XLR, as Air Canada can command a fare premium for a non-stop flight without scheduling excess capacity that would be provided by a widebody.
The third major change for Air Canada’s transatlantic schedule in 2026 is the addition of a new route from Toronto to Budapest, making it the second North American carrier to serve Hungary’s capital (along with 
American Airlines). Additionally, Air Canada will begin expanding its weekly flights to Prague from three times a week to four. As a whole, Air Canada’s latest expansion announcement is relatively modest, but includes notable additions.
Changes To Transpacific Operations
Air Canada is making two major changes to its Asian network in the 2026 summer season. First up is the long-awaited return of Air Canada’s route from Toronto to Shanghai. Air Canada has so far focused on serving China from its Vancouver hub, as flights between North America and China remain well below pre-COVID levels. This addition signals a slow return to this long-gone era of connectivity.
The other major change to Air Canada’s transpacific network is that the route from Vancouver to Bangkok will become year-round. As it stands, flights operate thrice weekly with a Boeing 787-9, but only during the winter season. Now, Air Canada will operate this route year-round, retaining the same schedule and flight frequencies.
|
Origin |
Destination |
Flight Number |
Aircraft Type |
Frequency |
Change From 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Montreal |
Catania |
AC 932 |
Boeing 787-9 |
Three times per week |
New route |
|
Montreal |
Mallorca |
AC 924 |
Airbus A321XLR |
Four times per week |
New Route |
|
Vancouver |
Bangkok |
AC 65 |
Boeing 787-9 |
Three times per week |
Winter seasonal to year-round |
|
Toronto |
Shanghai |
AC 27 |
Boeing 787-9 |
Four times per week |
New Route |
|
Toronto |
Budapest |
AC 942 |
Boeing 787-9 |
Four times per week |
New Route |
|
Toronto |
Prague |
AC 934 |
Airbus A330-300 |
Four times per week |
One new weekly flight |
The Shanghai route indicates a gradual return to pre-COVID travel patterns. Demand to and from China has been relatively slow to return, so for Air Canada to add flights from its Toronto hub demonstrates improving demand. Meanwhile, Air Canada is the only airline to connect North America and Thailand nonstop, and the carrier is capitalizing on its unique position in this market.
Implications For Air Canada’s Network
Palma de Mallorca and Catania are not huge cities. Both of these airports are only served by one other North American airline ( 
United Airlines to Mallorca and 
Delta Air Lines to Catania), and Air Canada has announced that Mallorca will be its first A321XLR destination. The aircraft is intended to serve small destinations that are only economical due to its size and fuel efficiency.
However, long-haul premium leisure is on the rise, and nations such as Italy or Spain are some of the most popular destinations in Europe for North Americans. While the US is most often explored as a prominent example of rising demand for long-haul premium leisure, this trend can also be seen in Canada and is motivating flights such as these, along with the Bangkok expansion.
Bangkok is not a major business destination from Canada, but it does have strong leisure demand, and Air Canada holds the unique position of being the only airline to connect Thailand to North America nonstop. In this expansion, the returning flight to Shanghai is the outlier as it’s less motivated by leisure demand than the other new destinations.
