Air Canada Expands Winter Schedule, Adds New Japan and Europe Routes

Air Canada has unveiled an expanded winter schedule, introducing several high-demand routes.

The airline will operate the only non-stop flights from North America to Sapporo, Japan, giving travelers direct access to Hokkaido’s winter attractions. 

The network also adds Quito, Ecuador, offering travelers a new gateway to South America’s landscapes. Year-round service to Manchester, UK, and Copenhagen, Denmark, further broadens the airline’s European footprint.

Reinforcing Vancouver as a Pacific hub

These additions expand Air Canada’s international network and establish the airline as the carrier with the most non-stop destinations to Japan from the North American mainland.

Vancouver emerges as a central Pacific hub, becoming North America’s second-largest gateway to Asia.

The expanded services also reflect strong ongoing demand for premium leisure travel to Japan and across the Pacific, positioning the airline to capture a larger share of long-haul travel.

Enhanced global connectivity

In late 2025, Air Canada reinstated its codeshare agreement with Air India, unlocking further connectivity between the two countries. Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India, highlighted the importance of the agreement, noting that it supports the travel of over two million passengers annually between India and Canada.

Photo by Mike Kilcoyne on Unsplash