Air Canada Targets Secondary Europe Markets With Narrowbodies

Air Canada will broaden its European footprint in summer 2026, launching a number of thinner routes including to Berlin with the Airbus A321XLR as the airline begins to leverage the narrowbody’s long-range capabilities to access secondary markets.

The Star Alliance member is adding seasonal services: from Montreal to Berlin and Nantes, France; from Halifax to Brussels; and from Toronto Pearson to Ponta Delgada, Azores. It is also restoring Montreal-Tel Aviv. All routes except Tel Aviv will be operated three times per week with single-aisle aircraft.

“We are strategically increasing new nonstop routes across Europe to bring convenient access to key destinations, while strengthening economic ties, and supporting tourism,” says Mark Galardo, Air Canada's chief commercial officer. “With these additions, Air Canada will offer North America's second largest transatlantic network by destinations next summer,” he adds.

The summer 2026 schedule includes Halifax-Brussels from June 18 to Sept. 6, Montreal-Nantes from June 10 to Oct. 12 and Toronto-Ponta Delgada from June 11 to Sept. 6, all served with Boeing 737-8s. Montreal-Berlin will operate July 2 to Oct. 11 using A321XLRs, while Montreal-Tel Aviv will run twice a week from June 5 to Oct. 24 with 787s. Air Canada resumed Toronto-Tel Aviv in October 2025 after suspending flights during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

For Berlin, the new A321XLR service marks the first use of the type at Brandenburg Airport, which says that the aircraft’s efficiency helps enable long-haul links previously unviable for the region. Berlin remains relatively underserved in the North American market, with only year-round flights from United Airlines, plus seasonal service from Air Transat, Delta Air Lines and Norse Atlantic. Air Canada last served Berlin Tegel in 2019.

The A321XLR is central to Air Canada’s strategy of opening thinner transatlantic markets. The carrier has 30 on order, with its first due in early 2026 and up to 10 to arrive in its fleet next year. It has already confirmed plans to deploy the aircraft type on a new Montreal-Palma de Mallorca route, as well as on existing sectors such as Montreal-Toulouse and Montreal-Edinburgh.

Analysis of data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows that Air Transat serves Montreal-Nantes and plans up to 6X-weekly flights next summer. Both Air Canada and Air Transat fly Montreal-Brussels, but Halifax-Brussels remains unserved. Azores Airlines operates Toronto and Montreal routes to Ponta Delgada year-round.

Air Canada served 28 European destinations in summer 2025 and operated 5.8 million two-way Canada-Europe seats, up from 5.49 million in 2024. Preliminary schedules for summer 2026 already exceeded 5.97 million seats before the latest additions. The new services follow earlier route additions, including Montreal-Palma de Mallorca and Montreal-Catania.