Air Canada has announced the suspension of select US-bound flights as rising jet fuel prices continue to strain airline operations following the Iran conflict. The cuts will begin this summer and are expected to last at least five months.
Key US routes affected
The airline confirmed that all services to John F. Kennedy International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport will be temporarily halted, per Fox Business. Flights to JFK from Montreal and Toronto will remain suspended from June 1 through October 25, 2026.
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Operations to Salt Lake City, typically served from Toronto Pearson, will stop from June 30, with services expected to resume in 2027.
Despite the cuts, routes to nearby Newark and LaGuardia airports will continue, indicating a shift in network focus rather than a full withdrawal from the region.
Fuel prices drive decision
The airline linked the move directly to rising fuel costs. "As we regularly do, we monitor and review our network to ensure that routes are meeting profitability targets," Air Canada said in a statement per Fox Business.
"Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, affecting some lower profitability routes and flights which now are no longer economically feasible. Schedule adjustments including some frequency reductions are being made in response," the statement added.
Jet fuel prices recently climbed to $3.79, marking a sharp increase since late February.
Wider network adjustments
Alongside US routes, Air Canada is also scaling back some domestic and international services. Flights between Vancouver and Fort McMurray will end on May 28, while the Toronto–Yellowknife route will be suspended from August 30.
A planned new service between Montreal and Guadalajara has also been put on hold indefinitely.
The airline said these changes reportedly affect around 1 per cent of its total flying capacity for 2026, suggesting a limited but targeted adjustment.
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Air Canada's move reflects a broader trend across the aviation sector. Several US carriers, including JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines, have introduced cost-cutting measures such as higher baggage fees to offset rising expenses.
Passengers affected by the route changes will be contacted with alternative travel options, the airline said.
