Finance
Air Canada expands winter routes to Europe, Latin America
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 28, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
Quick Summary
Air Canada expands its winter routes to Europe and Latin America, introducing new flights to Quito. The airline focuses on premium travel to drive growth.
Air Canada Enhances Winter Routes to Europe and Latin America
Air Canada's Strategic Route Expansion
Jan 28 (Reuters) - Air Canada on Wednesday said it expanded its winter network to Europe and Latin America, betting on growing demand for premium international travel.
New Flights to Quito
It will launch new flights to Ecuador's capital, Quito, from its Toronto and Montréal hubs starting in December this year, using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Focus on Premium Travel
Airlines in North America are increasingly relying on premium cabins, corporate travel and loyalty programs to drive bottom-line growth.
Collective Bargaining Update
"We are continuing our strategic expansion into Latin America, taking advantage of continued demand strength and cargo opportunities, while leveraging a new Airbus A321 XLR base at our Toronto-Pearson global hub to enable year-round service to Copenhagen and Manchester," said Mark Galardo, president of cargo at Air Canada.
Last week, Air Canada said it was expanding its route with non-stop flights to Sapporo, beginning in December 2026.
Separately, Unifor, which represents 6,000 members working at the carrier, said it had opened collective bargaining for airport and customer service staff ahead of a February 28, 2026 contract expiration.
(Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
Key Takeaways
- •Air Canada expands winter routes to Europe and Latin America.
- •New flights to Quito from Toronto and Montréal starting December.
- •Focus on premium cabins and corporate travel for growth.
- •Strategic use of Airbus A321 XLR for year-round service.
- •Collective bargaining opened for airport and customer service staff.
Frequently Asked Questions about Air Canada expands winter routes to Europe, Latin America
1What is collective bargaining?
Collective bargaining is the process where employers and a group of employees negotiate terms of employment, including wages, hours, and working conditions.
2What is a Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-haul, wide-body, twin-engine jet that is known for its fuel efficiency and advanced technology, providing a comfortable flying experience.
