Air Canada Launches Record 13 Asian Destinations in 2026

In a major expansion, Air Canada announced it will serve a record-breaking 13 Asian destinations in 2026, bolstering its long-haul network from key hubs across Canada. This announcement, made on January 21, 2026, underscores the airline’s commitment to enhancing connectivity between Canada and Asia, with a particular focus on its West Coast hub at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

The new route will be a seasonal nonstop service from Vancouver to Chitose Hokkaido Airport (CTS) in Sapporo, Japan, commencing on December 17, 2026. Air Canada plans to operate this route three times a week using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, making it Sapporo’s only scheduled nonstop connection to North America. This new corridor will also mark Air Canada’s shortest route to Asia, covering a distance of 3,726 nautical miles (6,901 kilometers).

Air Canada’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Mark Galardo, highlighted the appeal of Sapporo for Canadian travelers, emphasizing the city’s renowned snow, cultural experiences, and culinary offerings. He stated, “Whether people are avid snow enthusiasts, cultural or culinary connoisseurs, or global explorers, Air Canada’s new service will make discovering Japan’s vibrant northern regions more convenient than ever.”

Expanding the Asian Network

With the addition of Sapporo, Air Canada will operate a total of 19 routes to its 13 Asian destinations from its hubs in Vancouver, Montréal Trudeau International (YUL), and Toronto Pearson International (YYZ). According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the airline’s most frequent route will remain the Vancouver to Hong Kong (HKG) service, with 366 planned one-way departures this year. This route operates daily, and, notably, saw double departures on some days in early January.

In addition to Hong Kong, Air Canada will maintain daily services to four other major Asian cities: Delhi (DEL), Seoul (ICN), Tokyo Haneda (HND), and Tokyo Narita (NRT). The Vancouver to Shanghai (PVG) route follows closely with 360 flights scheduled, while seasonal services will also be offered to Bangkok (BKK), Beijing (PEK), Manila (MNL), Osaka (KIX), and Singapore (SIN).

Overall, Air Canada has scheduled a remarkable total of 4,691 one-way departures to Asia from its three primary hubs in 2026, all of which will be operated with widebody aircraft. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will dominate this fleet, accounting for 3,318 of the flights, followed by the Boeing 777-300ER with 919 flights, the 777-200LR with 365 flights, and the 787-8 with 89 flights.

One-Stop Service to Mumbai

While most of Air Canada’s Asian flights operate nonstop, the Toronto to Mumbai (BOM) route features a unique stopover at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). This service allows passengers to book tickets for segments between London and Mumbai independently, leveraging fifth freedom rights. The Toronto to Mumbai route operates seasonally in winter, with 88 departures scheduled this year, split across various months to optimize travel options.

Air Canada’s strategic expansion into Asia not only enhances its service offerings but also positions the airline to meet the growing demand for travel between Canada and this vital region. As the industry continues to recover, Air Canada’s bold moves reflect an optimistic outlook for international travel in the coming years.