Air Canada is enhancing its transborder flight offerings to the United States, despite ongoing political tensions. In October 2023, the airline has scheduled a total of 10,356 flights on routes to and from the U.S., providing 1,213,760 seats and 1,345,171,933 ASMs (available seat miles), according to data from the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Notably, a significant portion of these flights is operated by regional jets, with only 4,175 flights, or approximately 40.3% , categorized as mainline services.
Boeing 787-8 Dominates Transborder Routes
Among the widebody aircraft, the Boeing 787-8 stands out as the most frequently utilized for transborder flights this month. Cirium reports that 134 flights will be operated by widebody twinjets, with the majority—50 flights—connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The 787-8, which offers 255 seats across three classes, will operate daily on this route until October 25, after which it will transition to different services as part of the IATA Winter Schedule.
The aircraft’s other transborder route for October involves a single round trip between Montréal (YUL) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on October 31. Air Canada emphasizes the significance of the 787 family in its operations, stating, “Five years ago, we introduced our Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on two routes with a dream of flying the flag to places we’d never been before. Today, those two routes have grown to 31 across five continents.”
Airbus A330-300 Expands Florida Connections
While the Boeing 787-8 operates the most frequent transborder route, the Airbus A330-300 will serve the greatest variety of U.S. corridors this month. It will facilitate 11 flights from Montréal to Fort Lauderdale, operating twice daily from October 26 to October 30, and once on October 31. Additionally, the A330-300 will operate 12 flights from Toronto Pearson to Fort Lauderdale, commencing after the schedule change.
The A330-300 will also connect Montréal and Los Angeles with 12 rotations throughout October, although no flights are scheduled post-schedule change. This strategic focus on Florida indicates Air Canada’s commitment to maintaining robust service to popular destinations.
Boeing 787-9’s New Route to Vancouver
As the IATA Winter Schedule takes effect, Air Canada will introduce the Boeing 787-9 on a daily service connecting Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with Vancouver (YVR). This route will feature an eastbound block time of five hours and eight minutes and a westbound return of five hours and fifty minutes. The service is scheduled to depart at 18:25 and arrive at 21:15 local time.
The 787-9 offers a larger capacity of 298 passengers, consisting of 30 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 247 economy seats. This addition reflects Air Canada’s ongoing strategy to enhance its transborder offerings while catering to increasing demand.
Air Canada continues to adapt its flight schedules and aircraft deployments to meet evolving travel patterns, ensuring that it remains a key player in the transborder market, even amid changing political landscapes.