en.Wedoany.com Reported - Air Canada's long-haul operations are growing. According to flight schedules submitted by Star Alliance to OAG, the airline operates an average of 57 long-haul flights per day between July 2026 and March 2027. This figure inevitably masks significant seasonal variations.
Compared to the period from June 2025 to March 2026, the airline's long-haul flight volume has increased by 10%. This represents a very strong growth rate, surpassing the much smaller WestJet (+8%) but falling short of Air Transat (+14%). These three carriers have recently added or resumed several long-haul routes.
Air Canada's longest non-stop route is from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), with a block time of up to 17 hours and 5 minutes. This route not only faces headwinds but must also avoid Russian, Ukrainian, and Iranian airspace. Air Canada primarily operates daily flights, though during summer, some weeks see only six flights per week. All flights are operated by the 298-seat Boeing 787-9. This is the largest market between North America and India. Including all airlines, booking data shows that round-trip passenger traffic between YYZ and DEL reached 574,000 last year. In comparison, New York's JFK and Newark (EWR) combined had "only" 380,000 passengers. These figures include all travelers, whether flying non-stop or connecting at intermediate hubs.
Most articles analyzing route lengths focus on maximum block time, and this article adopts the same approach. Using OAG data, Air Canada's non-stop flights from July 2026 to March 2027 were analyzed. Although occasional stopover services are included (such as in analyses of Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Turkish Airlines), this method is not applied here. Block time includes taxi time at both ends of the route, flight time, and brief delays. It reflects slot occupancy, measured from off-block to on-block (or gate-to-gate). Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Singapore (SIN) is the second-longest route, with a block time of up to 16 hours and 45 minutes. Historically, Air Canada operated the SIN route until 1991. In 2024, the route resumed after Singapore Airlines exited the previous year. This is a ready-made market and a common way for airlines to expand their networks. Air Canada currently operates 4 to 5 weekly flights using the 787-9. The remaining five longest routes include Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), which returned to Air Canada's network on June 3, 2026. This route was previously operated until 2020, when it was suspended due to the pandemic. It now operates 3 to 4 weekly flights, depending on the month. Flight frequency remains below the pre-pandemic daily service. The flight to PVG is designated as AC27.
The sixth-longest route is Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), with a maximum block time of 15 hours and 55 minutes, operated by the 787-9 and 777-200LR. This ultra-long-haul route almost entirely originates or terminates at YYZ, but only the non-stop segment from YVR to SYD is considered here. The only flights not originating or terminating at YYZ are three weekly services in December and early January, added for Christmas, New Year, and peak season, which operate YVR-SYD-YVR independently using the 787-9. The seventh-longest route is YYZ to Seoul Incheon, with a maximum of 15 hours and 10 minutes, operating 5 weekly to daily flights on the 787-9. Next is YVR to Brisbane, with a maximum of 15 hours, operating 6 weekly to daily flights on the 787-9. Montreal to Seoul Incheon has a maximum of 14 hours and 55 minutes, operating 3 to 4 weekly flights on the 787-9. Dubai International Airport (DXB) to YYZ has a maximum of 14 hours and 50 minutes, operating daily on the 787-9. Due to the Iran war, Air Canada is not expected to resume UAE routes until at least September. This route is operated in partnership with Emirates.
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