The decision is part of Air Canada’s operational strategy, which aims to focus limited resources on more profitable and in-demand routes.The five routes being closed by Air Canada include cities where passenger numbers have declined significantly in recent years. The routes being closed include 1. Montreal to Washington, D.C. (Reagan National Airport), 2. Toronto to St. Louis, Calgary to Las Vegas, Vancouver to San Diego and Halifax to New York City.
“This decision was made in light of reduced passenger demand, rising fuel costs and changing air travel preferences,” Air Canada said in a statement. International travel has changed significantly since COVID-19. Reduced business travel, the rise of virtual meetings and rising inflation have led to people traveling less. In this context, Air Canada has reviewed its current flight schedule.
This decision has caused inconvenience to thousands of passengers who used to travel regularly between these cities in Canada and the United States. They will now have to choose alternative airlines or routes, which could increase both travel time and costs. Air Canada has issued specific guidelines for affected passengers through its website and customer service, including details of refunds, alternative flights, or flight credits.
According to aviation industry experts, the move is part of a global trend among airlines, where companies are withdrawing from weak markets to make their routes more profitable. “Airlines are now conducting a deep analysis of demand and profitability to optimize air networks. Such decisions may be painful in the short term, but are necessary for the financial survival of the company,” said Mark Davis, an analyst at the Canadian Aviation Forum.
Air Canada has said that it will continue to assess the market situation and that if demand increases in the future, these routes may be reactivated. The company has also assured that it will continue to serve more essential routes, both domestically and internationally.
Air Canada’s closure of five U.S. routes will make travel somewhat more difficult for Canadian and U.S. passengers, but the decision is considered necessary given the current economic conditions and the airline’s survival. Passengers are advised to confirm their upcoming flight details with Air Canada’s website or customer service.