Air Canada is adding new winter sun destinations for the 2026-27 season as it shifts capacity toward leisure markets in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Among the additions are flights from both Toronto and Montreal to Tenerife in the Canary Islands, becoming the only nonstop services between North America and the Spanish destination. The routes will begin in late October and operate through April 2027 using Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
“We are further cementing Air Canada’s global network as one of the most far-reaching from the North American continent,” says Mark Galardo, who serves as executive vice president and CCO, as well as president of the carrier's cargo unit.
Air Canada plans to launch 2X-weekly flights from Toronto Pearson beginning Oct. 25, followed by weekly service from Montreal starting Oct. 31. The North America-Canary Islands market has remained unserved since May 2025, when United Airlines ended its Newark-Tenerife service, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.
The Tenerife operation underscores the strategic importance of the A321XLR within Air Canada’s fleet, allowing the airline to profitably serve longer, lower-density routes that would be less viable with larger widebody aircraft. As previously reported, the Star Alliance carrier has selected Palma de Mallorca as the first new destination for the A321XLR, with Montreal flights scheduled to commence June 17 and operate four times per week through Oct. 24. The aircraft is also expected to be deployed on additional European routes, including Edinburgh, Porto, Toulouse, Berlin and Lyon, among others.
Beyond Tenerife, Air Canada is adding four new destinations during the winter 2026-27 season: Roatan, Honduras; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Merida, Mexico; and Mazatlan, Mexico. The network expansion also includes additional connectivity from cities such as Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Halifax to Caribbean destinations including Montego Bay, Punta Cana, Guadeloupe and Bridgetown.
The Halifax-Bridgetown route, launching Dec. 17, will establish the first nonstop link between Atlantic Canada and Barbados. Flights will be operated weekly with a Boeing 737-8. “The route will drive incremental growth, support tourism stakeholders and further solidify the island’s longstanding relationship with Canada,” says Barbados Tourism Marketing CEO Andrea Franklin.
The expansion aligns with Air Canada’s broader strategic shift toward Latin America and the Caribbean, where the carrier has reported stronger load factors and yields. The airline has been increasing capacity in these regions to offset softer demand in the U.S. transborder market, where revenues and traffic declined in 2025 amid geopolitical shifts. At the same time, Air Canada continues to build its sixth-freedom network, leveraging its hubs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to connect Europe with Latin America.
The winter schedule builds on previously announced expansions, including service to Sapporo, Japan, and Quito, Ecuador, and comes as the airline prepares for a fleet renewal phase that includes A321XLR and A350-1000 deliveries.
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