Air Canada Updates Regional Flight Routes This Winter
Air Canada announced adjustments to its regional network for the upcoming winter season. Starting December 15, 2025, the airline will operate daily flights between Ottawa and Fredericton, as well as between Ottawa and Moncton. In addition, non-stop service between Vancouver and Fort McMurray will begin on December 2, 2025. These changes are intended to respond to changes in travel demand while providing more direct connections between regional cities and larger hubs within Canada's domestic air transportation system.
Service on the Sudbury–Toronto route will also increase to three daily flights starting February 1, 2026, up from two. This expansion raises seat capacity by approximately 50 percent. All routes will continue to use Air Canada Express Q400 aircraft. These adjustments are intended to create a more consistent schedule for travelers, ensuring that passengers have additional options for business, personal, or regional travel across the province of Ontario.
These new routes offer travelers easier access to destinations that were harder to reach before. Ottawa travelers will now have direct flights to Fredericton and Moncton without the need for lengthy layovers, while Fort McMurray passengers gain direct access to Vancouver. The Sudbury–Toronto service increase adds flexibility for daily commuters and occasional travelers. These changes alter travel patterns slightly, providing alternatives for people in smaller communities who previously relied on connecting flights through larger airports.
Along with the new routes, Air Canada will discontinue service to Bathurst and North Bay effective January 30, 2026, citing commercial viability issues. These discontinuations are part of a broader strategy to adjust resources in the regional network. The realignment may affect local travel habits and shift passengers to other routes. Monitoring these changes will help assess how regional air connectivity evolves as demand continues to change across Canada.
“We have strategically designed these New Brunswick flights to connect in Ottawa to and from our domestic and sun network for additional travel choices."
The adjustments reflect Air Canada’s ongoing modifications to its regional network in response to demand. For passengers, this means more direct options between key cities, increased frequency on certain routes, and the removal of some less viable services. These updates give travelers more dependable options for trip planning. They also highlight broader trends in domestic air travel, showing how airlines reallocate resources to respond to changing travel demands across Canadian regions.
