Air Canada is set to expand its transborder network in summer 2026 with three new routes that connect Canada more deeply with the United States. The airline will begin service between Toronto and San Antonio with three weekly flights. Two additional routes – Montreal to Cleveland and Montreal to Columbus – are slated to operate daily. These additions are part of a broader push to grow transborder capacity by roughly 15% compared to summer 2025.
The San Antonio route will depart from Toronto’s Pearson hub, offering new access for travelers headed to southern Texas. Cleveland Hopkins and Columbus will gain daily flights from Montreal, giving residents in those Ohio cities a more direct connection to Eastern Canada. These enhancements respond to demand for more cross-border travel options, including for business, visitation, and leisure.
What Travelers Can Expect
For U.S. travelers in Texas and Ohio, these routes mean more convenient connections with fewer layovers. San Antonio travelers will benefit from direct access to Canada’s financial and cultural centers. Similarly, Cleveland and Columbus residents will gain direct flights to Quebec’s hub, opening up more options for onward travel via Canadian gateways.
Flight frequencies matter: weekly or daily schedules make it easier to plan. Toronto-San Antonio, with three weekly flights, suits travelers who don’t need daily departure flexibility. Meanwhile, the daily Montreal routes to Cleveland and Columbus provide consistency and choice. Air Canada’s typical service in these markets includes schedule matching with connecting flights, loyalty program benefits, and alignment with seasonal travel patterns.
Strategic Significance & Impacts
These new routes reflect a strategy of strengthening transborder connectivity. Canada-US travel has long been a backbone for airlines, but capacity had been suppressed recently due to economic pressures, fuel costs, and regulatory complexity. By adding these routes, Air Canada is betting that demand will bounce back – particularly among leisure travelers and people visiting friends and family – and that more options will drive bookings.
Boosting capacity by 15% is no small feat. It requires aircraft allocation, staffing, landing slots, and marketing. Airlines must ensure demand justifies costs, and seasonal variation will be a key factor. Summer 2026 is the timeframe when travel typically increases, so launching then gives Air Canada the seasonal tailwind many airlines depend on.
There’s also competitive pressure. U.S. airlines already serve many cross-border markets; Air Canada’s expansion aims to capture both local demand and connecting traffic. For example, travelers flying from Columbus or Cleveland might now prefer Air Canada’s Montreal connections for onward international flights. San Antonio’s inclusion diversifies Toronto’s outbound reach.
In summary, Air Canada’s planned routes for 2026 – Toronto to San Antonio, and Montreal to Cleveland and Columbus – offer travelers more options, better access, and reflect a move toward restoring, and even growing, transborder air travel. For people in Texas, Ohio, or Canada, these new services promise more convenience, reliability, and possibilities for both business and leisure journeys.
