Cuts at Air Canada Affect Seasonal Flights

Several Air Canada flights to the U.S. midwest are being cancelled or delayed over the winter, a move the airline doesn’t attribute to fuel shortages, but rather anticipated demand on the routes. 

"Air Canada regularly reviews its schedule to ensure capacity is aligned with customer demand and seasonal travel patterns. As part of that process, we have made some adjustments to our winter schedule on select routes," the airline says in a statement. 

Related: Canadian Airlines Add Fees, Cut Flights as Oil Prices Climb

The most recently-reported cuts include Montreal–Detroit, Montreal–Minneapolis and Toronto–Indianapolis. Air Canada notes that these routes also did not operate last year. 

Seasonal start dates for Ottawa–Fort Lauderdale, Quebec City–Orlando and Montreal–Palm Beach are being pushed later in the season, “closer to peak winter travel periods,” the airline states, which are “better matching projected demand.” 

The New York market will also see some changes. Air Canada has made the decision not to return to JFK airport this winter, although reserves the possibility of returning there in the future. However, the airline said it is “continuing to grow (its) New York presence year-over-year.” This growth is largely focused on new services from Toronto’s downtown Billy Bishop Airport, with up to five daily flights to LaGuardia this winter. The flights from Toronto’s growing second airport are in addition to flights from Pearson Airport to LaGuardia Airport in New York and Newark Airport in New Jersey.

Related: Air Canada Suspends Toronto, Montreal–JFK Flights as Jet Fuel Prices Climb

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