Air Canada (AC), Canada’s flag carrier and largest airline, formally revealed a substantial expansion of its Winter 2026–27 long‑haul and leisure network on April 6, 2026, signalling a strategic ramp‑up of its sun‑market connectivity from coast to coast.
The new schedule includes the only nonstop flights from North America to Tenerife South Airport (TFS) in the Canary Islands, alongside fresh seasonal services to Roatán (Honduras), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Mérida and Mazatlán (Mexico), and expanded Caribbean and Central American routes across Canada. The new flights are officially bookable now, and bundled vacation packages will be available via Air Canada Vacations.
Carrier Profile: Air Canada (AC)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Airline | Air Canada (AC) |
| Headquarters | Montréal, Québec, Canada |
| Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Fleet Highlights | Airbus A321XLR, A220, Boeing 787 series |
| Network | ~180+ destinations globally |
| Loyalty Program | Aeroplan |
| Winter 2026–27 Focus | Tenerife (TFS) nonstop; expanded Caribbean, Mexico & Central America routes |
Air Canada’s Winter 2026–27 Expansion
Air Canada’s new winter schedule represents a material increase in leisure market footprint, particularly in regions traditionally reliant on seasonal charter or indirect services from North America.
- The Tenerife (TFS) service establishes the first and sole nonstop connection between North America and the Canary Islands.
- The addition of Roatán (RTB), Santo Domingo (SDQ), Mérida (MID) and Mazatlán (MZT) diversifies leisure options while alleviating winter‑season demand pressure at core hubs.
- Expanded non‑stop routes to Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and Central America strengthen Air Canada’s sun‑market leadership across Canadian origin points.
Air Canada officials cited Aeroplan loyalty demand and network diversification strategy as principal drivers for the new services.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Air_Canada_Boeing_787-9_Dreamliner_C-FVND_approaching_EWR_Airport.jpg
Air Canada’s New Nonstop Flights to Tenerife, Canary Islands
Air Canada will operate seasonal nonstop flights between Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) and Tenerife South Airport (TFS), and between Montréal‑Trudeau Airport (YUL) and Tenerife, exclusively for the Winter 2026–27 season.
- Toronto (YYZ) – Tenerife (TFS):
− Two weekly frequencies beginning October 25, 2026.
− Flights depart from Toronto in the evening, arriving Tenerife the following morning.
− Service continues until late April 2027. - Montréal (YUL) – Tenerife (TFS):
− One weekly frequency commencing October 31, 2026.
− Scheduled through April 24, 2027.
These flights will be operated with Air Canada’s Airbus A321XLR, featuring lie‑flat Business Class seats and an upgraded cabin environment. Here’s how the carrier configures its A321XLR:
| Cabin Class | Seat Count | Layout | Pitch / Bed Length | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Class (Business) | 14 | 1-1 herringbone, inward-facing | 36 in (91.4 cm) pitch, 6 ft 5 in (195.6 cm) lie-flat bed | Direct aisle access, high privacy walls, 18-inch 4K IFE, Bluetooth, USB-C, AC power, wireless charging, privacy doors (FAA pending), Viasat WiFi |
| Economy | 168 | 3-3 | 34 in (86.4 cm) pitch | Standard economy amenities, personal IFE screens, power at seats, updated Airspace cabin with larger overhead bins and LED lighting |
Data: Simple Flying
Key notes:
- No Premium Economy cabin is installed; economy seats are optimized to cover operational economics.
- Signature Class is designed for long-haul comfort on a narrowbody, leveraging herringbone layout to maximize lie-flat length in a 12.2-ft (3.7 m) wide cabin.
- Cabin altitude is maintained at 6,000 ft (1,828 m), similar to widebody 787 standards, although humidity remains at narrowbody typical levels (~10–12%).
- Overhead bins in both cabins offer 60% more volume than standard narrowbody lockers.
Dimple Melwani, the CEO of Tenerife Tourism, said that the arrival of Air Canada to Tenerife was a “strategic boost”:
“consolidating our destination as a global leader and bringing us closer to a high-value traveler for the island. This connection with Air Canada affords us the opportunity to give Tenerife a boost in these markets with growing demand, not only as a vacation destination, but also as a global hub in strategic sectors such as business and corporate tourism, the audiovisual and cultural industries, as well as cruise tourism with multi-stop itineraries.”
Expanded Sun and Seaside Destinations for Winter 2026–27
Air Canada’s winter network rollout includes several new and expanded leisure routes across Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and beyond:
| Destination | Origin Airport | Seasonal Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roatán (RTB), Honduras | Montréal (YUL) | Dec 12, 2026–Apr 10, 2027* |
| Roatán (RTB), Honduras | Toronto (YYZ) | Dec 13, 2026–Apr 11, 2027* |
| Santo Domingo (SDQ), Dominican Republic | Montréal (YUL) | Dec 10, 2026–Apr 18, 2027 |
| Mérida (MID), Mexico | Toronto (YYZ) | Nov 21, 2026–Apr 17, 2027* |
| Mazatlán (MZT), Mexico | Vancouver (YVR) | Dec 15, 2026–Apr 09, 2027* |
*Subject to governmental approvals.
Newly expanded non‑stop routes from across Canada
Air Canada’s Winter 2026–27 timetable also encompasses many additional non‑stop seasonal flights from Canadian origin airports such as Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Québec City, and Halifax to:
- Costa Rica (Liberia – LIR)
- Mexico (Monterrey – MTY; Puerto Escondido – PXM; Cancun – CUN; Puerto Vallarta – PVR)
- Caribbean points including Aruba (AUA), Montego Bay (MBJ), Punta Cana (PUJ), Pointe‑à‑Pitre (PTP), and Bridgetown (BGI)