Air Canada adds U.S. routes from Billy Bishop in 2026

Published on Oct 23, 2025, 11:07 am CDT

3 min read

Key points

YTZ adds LaGuardia, Boston, O'Hare, Dulles in 2026
LGA starts March 29, up to four daily
ORD and IAD begin June 1, BOS July 1
Montréal to nine daily, Ottawa to six daily
Free Wi-Fi and refreshed Dash 8-400 cabins
U.S. preclearance planned at Billy Bishop

Impact

What Changed: Four new U.S. routes from YTZ and higher frequencies to Montréal and Ottawa in 2026.
Why It Matters: Downtown-to-downtown options expand for business travelers, with preclearance and free onboard Wi-Fi.
Dates: LGA Mar. 29, 2026; ORD and IAD Jun. 1, 2026; BOS Jul. 1, 2026; domestic boosts Jan. 2026.
What To Do: For spring and summer 2026, compare YTZ convenience against YYZ connectivity before booking.

Air Canada will add four U.S. routes from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) in 2026, with service to LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The carrier will also raise daily frequencies to Montréal and Ottawa in January. The expansion is timed to follow the opening of U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance at the island airport, streamlining arrivals and reinforcing downtown-to-downtown travel for business flyers.

Air Canada at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

All flights will be operated by Jazz Aviation on 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. Air Canada is positioning Billy Bishop as a complement to Toronto Pearson's long-haul and global network, adding dense schedules on short-haul business corridors while keeping day-trip itineraries feasible from Toronto's core.

Latest developments

Air Canada has confirmed start dates and planned frequencies. LaGuardia begins March 29, 2026, up to four times daily. Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles begin June 1, 2026, at two daily and one daily, respectively. Boston Logan launches July 1, 2026, at three daily. Separately, from January 2026, Montréal increases to nine daily return flights and Ottawa rises to six.

Analysis

Preclearance means travelers will clear U.S. formalities before departure and arrive as domestic passengers, shaving time at busy hubs. Combined with the quick ferry or tunnel transfer from Toronto's financial district, YTZ can outperform longer ground times to and from Pearson on tight schedules. Expect morning and late-afternoon banks geared to day trips on LaGuardia and Boston, with O'Hare and Dulles adding Star Alliance connectivity. Onboard, Air Canada has introduced fast, free Wi-Fi on Billy Bishop routes and is refreshing Dash 8-400 cabins through mid-2026, improving productivity and comfort on short legs.

Final thoughts

With U.S. preclearance on the way, free Wi-Fi, and firm start dates, Air Canada's Billy Bishop U.S. routes should make quick downtown-to-downtown trips more practical. The 2026 schedule puts LaGuardia, Boston, O'Hare, and Dulles within easy reach from YTZ, strengthening the case for Air Canada's Billy Bishop U.S. flights for business travelers.