Three New International Routes Coming to Toronto in 2026

Great news for all you Toronto-based Jetsetters!

Toronto Pearson is expanding its global reach next summer with three new routes spanning three continents: North America, Europe, and the Balkans.

Airlines are betting on Toronto’s strong travel demand in 2026, launching new connections to San Antonio, Helsinki, and Belgrade. The routes offer everything from Texas BBQ getaways to Nordic adventures and Balkan exploration.

Read below to get the full scoop!

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Air Canada Heads to San Antonio (First-Ever Canada Service)

Air Canada is launching the first-ever nonstop service between Canada and San Antonio, Texas, beginning May 1, 2026.

The Details:

• Frequency: 3x weekly
• Aircraft: Airbus A220
• Cabins: Business Class, Economy
• Season: May through October 2026
• Flight Times:
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
    • YYZ to SAT: Departs 6:20 PM, arrives 9:00 PM
  • Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday:
    • SAT to YYZ: Departs 10:30 AM, arrives 3:07 PM

Why San Antonio?

Air Canada is positioning this as a leisure route targeting travelers looking to explore San Antonio’s rich culture, historic sites like the Alamo, and warm Texas climate. The city has been growing as a tourism destination beyond its traditional business travel market.

The evening departure from Toronto makes it easy for a long weekend getaway, while the morning return from San Antonio gets travelers back to Toronto by mid-afternoon.

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Finnair Returns to Canada After a Decade

Finnair is bringing Canada back onto its route map with direct Toronto-Helsinki flights starting May 4, 2026. This marks the Finnish carrier’s return to Canada for the first time since 2015.

The Details:

• Frequency: 3x weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday)
• Aircraft: Airbus A330
• Cabins: Business Class, Premium Economy, Economy
• Season: May through October 2026
• Flight Times:
  • Monday, Wednesday, Saturday:
    • YYZ to HEL: Departs 11:40 PM, arrives 2:45 PM (+1)
  • Monday, Wednesday, Saturday:
    • HEL to YYZ: Departs 4:50 PM, arrives 6:35 PM

The Only Direct Connection

This will be the only non-stop service between Canada and Finland, opening up access to a country recently named the World’s Happiest Country for the eighth consecutive year.

Beyond Finland

Helsinki serves as a strategic hub for reaching underserved Nordic and Baltic destinations including Tromsø, Tallinn, and Bergen, along with major European cities like Berlin, Copenhagen, Rome, and Warsaw. Transfer times at Helsinki Airport can be as short as 40 minutes.

The schedule also enables connections to Asia, with daily flights to Delhi, India. Finnair expects strong demand for Canada-India travel via Helsinki.

Premium Experience

Finnair’s long-haul aircraft feature upgraded cabins including the airline’s signature non-reclining Business Class AirLounge seat and a redesigned Premium Economy section.

With Toronto’s addition, Finnair will serve seven North American cities in 2026: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Seattle, and Toronto.

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Air Serbia Launches Belgrade Service

Air Serbia is adding Toronto to its network with twice-weekly nonstop flights starting May 23, 2026. The service runs seasonally through late September 2026.

The Details:

• Frequency: 2x weekly
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-200
• Cabins: Business Class, Economy
• Season: May 23 through late September 2026
• Flight Times:
  • Wednesday:
    • BEG to YYZ: Departs 5:30 PM, arrives 9:35 PM
    • YYZ to BEG: Departs 11:45 PM, arrives 2:30 PM (+1)
  • Saturday:
    • BEG to YYZ: Departs 12:30 PM, arrives 4:35 PM
    • YYZ to BEG: Departs 6:45 PM, arrives 9:30 AM (+1)

Limited by Bilateral Agreement

The twice-weekly frequency isn’t by choice. The bilateral agreement between Canada and Serbia only allows two weekly flights for airlines from each country, meaning Air Serbia can’t add more frequencies even if demand warrants it.

Regional Connectivity

Beyond Belgrade itself, Air Serbia is positioning the route as a gateway to southeastern Europe and the Balkans. The airline offers connections to 20+ destinations in the region, including Athens, Budapest, Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Ljubljana, Prague, Sarajevo, Sofia, Split, Vienna, Zagreb, and Zurich.

This makes it an attractive option for travelers visiting multiple cities in a region that’s often difficult to reach with direct flights from North America.

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What This Means for Toronto Travellers

These three routes reflect different travel trends:

San Antonio targets leisure travelers seeking warm-weather getaways and cultural experiences in an accessible U.S. destination.

Helsinki serves multiple markets: direct access to Finland, connections throughout Scandinavia and the Baltics, and an efficient Asia connection point via a European hub.

Belgrade opens up southeastern Europe and the Balkans, a region with limited direct service from North America despite strong diaspora communities and growing tourism interest.

All three routes are seasonal, launching in May and running through the summer and early fall. Airlines will assess performance before deciding whether to make them year-round.

For travellers based in Toronto or the broader Ontario region, the expanded connectivity means more direct options and fewer connections for reaching these destinations.