Air Canada and United Airlines announced plans to add six new nonstop routes between Canada and the United States for the upcoming summer travel season, and to increase capacity on several existing services, the carriers said in coordinated statements.
Air Canada will add three nonstop links, including Toronto to Louisville, Montreal to Indianapolis, and Edmonton to Newark, the carrier said, with initial frequencies set to increase after launch and seasonal scheduling on some services.
United will introduce three Canadian routes, including seasonal service between Newark and St. John’s and new service from Denver to Ottawa and Quebec City, the U.S. carrier said, while also boosting capacity on select existing markets.
Air Canada said the partners are seeking regulatory approval to expand their transborder joint business arrangement, and Transport Canada confirmed it is reviewing the proposal and will accept public comment through a regulatory consultation process.
Context Impact And Network Changes
The carriers said their joint activity has already supported more than 20 new routes, carried over 4.3 million passengers and linked more than 1,200 connecting itineraries, according to Air Canada materials.
United plans added frequencies between Washington and Quebec City and said it will raise daily seat capacity on the Denver to Winnipeg market by about 65 percent, while Air Canada will also deploy larger Airbus A220 aircraft on some U.S. sectors to serve growing demand.
At the same time Air Canada will cut several U.S. services, TPG reported, citing schedule changes first noted by aviation observers. Routes listed for removal include Boston to Toronto Island, Charleston to Toronto Pearson, Nashville to Vancouver, Raleigh Durham to Vancouver and Seattle to Montreal.
Observers and industry documents cited uneven demand between the two countries. A person familiar with the matter told the National Post that Air Canada’s capacity to the U.S. has fallen about 10 percent over recent seasons, and analytics firm Cirium reported total flights and seats across carriers are down roughly 6 percent versus two years ago.
Transport Canada said it will evaluate the proposed expansion for its effects on competition, consumers and the wider economy, and the carriers noted the changes aim to offer shorter journeys, better connections and more travel options across the border.
