Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Air Canada is set to enhance its European offerings with the introduction of three exciting new routes next summer, targeting the Czech Republic, Italy, and Portugal. This expansion will see the introduction of two new routes from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The first route will connect Montreal with Naples, Italy, while the second will link the city to Porto, Portugal.
Moreover, Air Canada will reestablish its connection to Prague, Czech Republic, from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), marking a return to this destination after a hiatus exceeding five years. Service to Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP) is slated to commence on May 16, 2025, with four weekly flights utilizing the Boeing 787-8. The operation to Porto Airport (OPO) will start on June 4, 2025, similarly with four weekly flights, but using the 737-8 aircraft.
Currently, Air Canada connects to three destinations in Italy, with flights to Rome and Venice from both Montreal and Toronto, in addition to a Montreal-Milan Malpensa route. The addition of the Montreal-Naples route will establish Naples airport’s fourth direct summer-season service to North America, joining existing flights from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. In Portugal, Air Canada previously operated a route to Porto from Toronto until October 2019 but has since focused on Lisbon, offering daily flights from Toronto and six weekly flights from Montreal.
The upcoming Montreal-Porto route will place Air Canada in direct competition with Air Transat, which currently operates the same route four times a week using Airbus A321neo aircraft. Additionally, Air Canada plans to offer seasonal service from Toronto to Prague starting June 6, extending through late September with three weekly flights on 787-8s. This route, spanning 4,150 miles (3,606 nm), was last active during the summer of 2019.
Prague currently maintains limited direct connectivity to North America, with Delta providing the sole existing service from JFK using 767-300 aircraft..
