Air Canada to launch flights from Toronto Island airport to four U.S. cities

Billy Bishop is seen in this photograph taken on July 21, 2022. (Ted Brooks/CTV News Toronto)

Air Canada is expanding service to Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport.

On Thursday, the airline announced it is introducing daily flights to New York, Boston, Washington, and Chicago from the Toronto Island airport starting spring 2026.

“We have had a long-standing desire to grow our footprint here. We have the growing segment of brand-loyal customers that find this airport appealing,” Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive vice president, told CP24 on Thursday.

“This is our most significant expansion at Toronto Island since Air Canada first served the airport 35 years ago.”

The airline said the new launch will include non-stop return service four-times-daily to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, three-times-daily to Boston Logan International Airport, twice-daily to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and daily to Washington Dulles International Airport.

“The new transborder routes will especially benefit our loyal customers and business travellers by creating frequent and easy connections between the heart of Canada’s financial capital and the major markets of New York, Boston, Washington and Chicago,” Galardo said.

“We are delighted to welcome Air Canada’s expanded routes at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport – a milestone that underscores our shared commitment to enhancing connectivity, convenience, and choice for travellers,” said RJ Steenstra, president and CEO of PortsToronto, which owns and operatesthe Island airport.

The airline also announced that it would increase daily return flights from Toronto to Montreal and Ottawa, which are considered Canada’s most heavily travelled corridors for business traffic, Galardo said.

Flights from Montréal will increase to nine from eight, and to six from four from Ottawa.

“This announcement is excellent news for Canadian travellers. With Air Canada’s new flights from Billy Bishop Airport to the U.S., along with increased flight frequency from Toronto to Ottawa and Montréal, we’re strengthening regional and cross-border connectivity,” said Steve MacKinnon, Canada’s Minister of Transport.

“These additions will make travel more convenient, help connect families across distances, support business growth, and enhance service quality for Canadian travellers.”