MONTRÉAL— Air Canada (AC) and United Airlines (UA) will expand their transborder networks for summer 2027, introducing new non-stop flights from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Louisville (SDF), Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) to Indianapolis (IND), and Edmonton (YEG) to Newark Liberty (EWR).
The airlines will also expand connections involving St. John’s (YYT), Denver (DEN), Ottawa (YOW), Québec City (YQB), Washington Dulles (IAD) and Winnipeg (YWG). The announcement, made on October 16, 2026, also includes additional capacity and plans to renew and expand their long-standing partnership.
Air Canada Expands Non-Stop U.S. Network for Summer 2027
Air Canada will introduce three new routes connecting Canadian cities with key U.S. destinations. The airline will also deploy the larger Airbus A220 on its Edmonton to San Francisco (SFO) route to increase capacity.
The new services will give passengers more direct travel options while strengthening connections to major U.S. business centres. They will also help travellers connect to destinations beyond the new routes through the airlines’ respective networks.
Toronto to Louisville service will begin on April 28, 2027, and operate until October 31, 2027. The route will initially operate up to daily, with daily service planned from May.
The Montréal to Indianapolis route will launch on June 1, 2027, and operate daily through September 30, 2027. It will provide Montréal with another direct connection to the United States and improve access to Indianapolis, an important economic centre in the Midwest.
Air Canada will also launch four-times-weekly service between Edmonton and Newark from June 1 to October 17, 2027. The route will provide a direct connection between Edmonton and the New York metropolitan area, with onward connections available through United Airlines’ Newark hub.
Air Canada Summer 2027 Flight Schedules
The airline has published the following flight numbers, departure and arrival times, frequencies, and operating dates for the three new routes.
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Frequency | Operating dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC8561 | Toronto (YYZ) to Louisville (SDF) | 14:00 | 15:35 | Up to daily | Apr. 28-Oct. 31, 2027 |
| AC8562 | Louisville (SDF) to Toronto (YYZ) | 16:10 | 17:37 | Up to daily | Apr. 28-Oct. 31, 2027 |
| AC8563 | Montréal (YUL) to Indianapolis (IND) | 17:00 | 19:31 | Daily | Jun. 1-Sep. 30, 2027 |
| AC8564 | Indianapolis (IND) to Montréal (YUL) | 14:00 | 16:10 | Daily | Jun. 1-Sep. 30, 2027 |
| AC1562 | Edmonton (YEG) to Newark (EWR) | 06:00 | 12:23 | Four times weekly | Jun. 1-Oct. 17, 2027 |
| AC1563 | Newark (EWR) to Edmonton (YEG) | 13:20 | 16:33 | Four times weekly | Jun. 1-Oct. 17, 2027 |
Source: Air Canada’s published summer 2027 schedule. Times are reproduced as announced.
The new Toronto-Louisville route will provide a seasonal connection between Canada’s largest city and Kentucky’s largest city. The Montréal-Indianapolis service will offer daily travel during the summer season, while the Edmonton-Newark flights will establish a direct link between Alberta and the New York region.
Air Canada has not specified the aircraft type for each of these three routes in the published schedule. The airline separately confirmed that it would use the larger Airbus A220 on the Edmonton-San Francisco route to increase capacity.
United Airlines Adds Routes and Increases Capacity
United Airlines will introduce additional services between the United States and Canada during summer 2027. The expansion includes seasonal flights from Newark to St. John’s, as well as new routes from Denver to Ottawa and Québec City.
The Newark-St. John’s service will restore a direct connection between Newfoundland and the New York region. Dennis Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of St. John’s International Airport, described the return of United’s non-stop service as an important milestone for regional air connectivity.
United will also increase flights between Washington, D.C., and Québec City. Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport highlighted the new Denver connection, year-round service to Chicago and five weekly flights to Washington Dulles as important additions for the region’s tourism and business sectors.
In another capacity increase, United will raise daily seat capacity between Denver and Winnipeg by 65%. The additional seats will provide more travel options for passengers connecting between Manitoba and destinations across the United States.
Ottawa International Airport also welcomed the new Denver route. Joel Tkach, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at the Ottawa International Airport Authority, said the service would strengthen United’s presence in Canada’s capital and improve access to major U.S. hubs.
The announcement did not provide detailed flight schedules for all the new and expanded United services.
Air Canada and United Plan to Expand Partnership
The new routes form part of the airlines’ Transborder Joint Business Agreement, established in 2022. The arrangement coordinates their Canada-U.S. networks to provide additional routes, more departure options and improved connections.
Since the agreement began, Air Canada and United have established 20 new transborder routes, including six added in 2026. The airlines also reported that more than 4.3 million passengers had travelled jointly on their networks since the agreement’s establishment.
Separately, Air Canada executive Mark Galardo said the partnership had created more than five million new transborder seats since 2022. The airlines’ announcement also noted that transborder seat capacity grew by approximately 31% in 2023 and another 7% in 2024.
Their combined networks serve 10 Canadian gateways and provide access to more than 1,200 connecting itineraries between Canada and the United States.
The agreement also supports Air Canada’s domestic network. Approximately two million customers connecting to or from the United States use Air Canada’s domestic services each year, benefiting more than 50 communities across Canada.
These connections support direct international access from cities including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Ottawa, Québec City, Regina, St. John’s and Winnipeg. Coordinated schedules also help distribute departures throughout the day and provide alternatives when disruptions affect travel plans.
Airlines Seek Regulatory Approval for Renewed Agreement
Air Canada and United Airlines have agreed to renew and expand their Transborder Joint Business Agreement, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
Air Canada has submitted an application to Transport Canada seeking approval of the amended and restated agreement. The proposed renewal is intended to preserve existing customer benefits while supporting further network growth and coordination between the two carriers.
The partnership allows the airlines to coordinate schedules and offer integrated through-fares across connecting itineraries. Passengers can purchase qualifying journeys on a single itinerary rather than arranging separate tickets for each flight segment.
The airlines say these arrangements can lower overall travel costs, improve connections and provide greater flexibility when disruptions require itinerary changes. They also help connect smaller Canadian communities to broader U.S. and international networks.
Airport Leaders Welcome New Transborder Connections
Edmonton International Airport welcomed Air Canada’s decision to introduce non-stop flights to Newark. James Jackson, Vice President of Air Service and Business Development, said the route would create additional opportunities for tourism, trade and business travel.
Montréal’s airport authority also welcomed the new Indianapolis service. Karl Brochu, ADM’s Vice President of Airport Operations and Air Services Development, said the route would improve access to a major economic centre in the U.S. Midwest for business travellers and tourists.
The response from Winnipeg Airports Authority focused on United’s planned 65% increase in daily seats between Denver and Winnipeg. The authority said the additional capacity would provide Manitobans with greater choice and convenience.
These responses reflect the role of transborder services in connecting regional economies with major commercial centres. Direct flights can reduce the need for connections through larger Canadian hubs and give travellers more options for reaching the United States.
Air Canada and United Strengthen North American Connectivity
Air Canada and United Airlines have worked together since 1996 and are founding members of Star Alliance. Their relationship has developed over nearly three decades, combining broad route networks with coordinated connections and reciprocal loyalty benefits.
The summer 2027 expansion adds new destinations to Air Canada’s U.S. network while extending United’s service from key hubs such as Newark and Denver. The increased Edmonton-San Francisco capacity and Denver-Winnipeg seat growth will also provide additional options on existing routes.
The planned renewal of the transborder agreement could support further network development, although its expansion remains subject to regulatory approval.
For travellers, the immediate benefit will be more direct routes, additional seats, and improved access to connecting flights across Canada and the United States.
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