Air Canada Is Bringing the Sun Next Winter With New Canary Islands Flights + Much More!

Air Canada is going big on winter sun for the 2026-27 season, and for Canadian travellers already dreaming about escaping next year’s cold, this is a pretty exciting network update.

The headline grabber is easily Tenerife, with Air Canada launching the only non-stop flights between North America and the Canary Islands from both Toronto and Montréal. But that is just one part of a much broader expansion that adds new destinations in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, while also boosting vacation connectivity from cities right across the country.

For Canadians, this means more direct options to warm-weather destinations, fewer awkward connections, and some interesting new route choices that go beyond the usual winter sun lineup.

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The big news: Tenerife is finally getting non-stop flights from Canada

If you’ve ever looked into the Canary Islands from Canada, you’ll know it has never exactly been easy. But this changes next winter!

Air Canada will launch new non-stop service to Tenerife South (TFS) from both Toronto Pearson and Montréal Trudeau, giving Canadians a direct option to this underrated winter escape. The airline says these will be the only non-stop services between North America and the Canary Islands, which makes this a genuinely unique addition to the market.

Tenerife offers warm weather, beaches, volcanic landscapes, resort stays, hiking, and a very different kind of European getaway than the usual Spain, Portugal, or Italy trip. For Canadians who want a winter trip that feels a little more special than another standard Caribbean vacation, this could be a very compelling option.

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Why this route is especially interesting for aviation nerds

There’s another reason this launch matters.

Air Canada says the Tenerife flights will be operated by its new Airbus A321XLR, one of the most strategically important aircraft entering its fleet. This aircraft is designed to open thinner long-haul routes that would not necessarily work with a larger widebody, and Tenerife is exactly the kind of destination it was built for.

Tenerife is among several leisure-heavy, long-distance destinations Air Canada can now serve due to this aircraft.

For travellers, the onboard product should also be worth paying attention to. Air Canada says the A321XLR will feature lie-flat seats in Signature Class, bringing a more premium long-haul experience to a narrowbody aircraft. The plane will seat 182 passengers, including 14 Signature Class seats and 168 Economy seats. It will also introduce a new cabin interior standard for the airline.

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Air Canada’s new Tenerife schedule

Montréal to Tenerife

• AC956: Montréal (YUL) to Tenerife (TFS)
  Departs 21:00, arrives 09:00 next day
  Operates Saturdays
  From October 31, 2026 to April 24, 2027
• AC957: Tenerife (TFS) to Montréal (YUL)
  Departs 10:55, arrives 14:10
  Operates Sundays
  From November 1, 2026 to April 25, 2027

Toronto to Tenerife

• AC954: Toronto (YYZ) to Tenerife (TFS)
  Departs 20:35, arrives 09:00 next day
  Operates Thursdays and Sundays
  From October 25, 2026 to April 29, 2027
• AC955: Tenerife (TFS) to Toronto (YYZ)
  Departs 10:55, arrives 14:50
  Operates Mondays and Fridays
  From October 26, 2026 to April 30, 2027

The Toronto schedule especially gives this route a little more flexibility, whether you’re booking a one-week trip or trying to build something longer around Spain or Europe.

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Air Canada is also adding four new sun destinations

Beyond the Canary Islands, Air Canada is also introducing four additional destinations for winter 2026-27:

• Roatán, Honduras (RTB) from Montréal and Toronto
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) from Montréal
• Mérida, Mexico (MID) from Toronto
• Mazatlán, Mexico (MZT) from Vancouver

This is a nice mix of routes because it shows Air Canada is not just throwing more seats into Cancun and Punta Cana.

There is some actual variety here.

Roatán is a very smart add

Roatán feels like the kind of destination that fits perfectly into Air Canada’s evolving leisure strategy. It is well known for diving, beach resorts, and a more laid-back Caribbean vibe, but still feels a bit less mainstream than some of the larger winter markets.

Santo Domingo adds a more urban Caribbean option

Santo Domingo stands out because it offers something a little different from the typical fly-and-flop beach vacation. As one of the Caribbean’s most historic and culturally rich cities, it gives travellers access to colonial architecture, nightlife, local food, and an easy gateway to explore more of the Dominican Republic beyond the resort zones.

Mérida gives Canadians a more cultural Mexico option

Most Canadian leisure traffic to Mexico is concentrated on beach destinations, so adding Mérida is notable. It opens up a different kind of trip in the Yucatán, one that leans more toward food, culture, architecture, and regional exploration.

Mazatlán continues Vancouver’s Latin America growth

Mazatlán from Vancouver is another interesting addition, especially as Air Canada keeps strengthening western Canada’s access to Mexico and Central America.

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Western Canada is getting a particularly strong boost

One of the biggest takeaways from this announcement is how much attention Air Canada is giving to Vancouver and the broader western Canada market.

New non-stop routes include:

• Vancouver to Liberia, Costa Rica
• Vancouver to Monterrey, Mexico
• Vancouver to Puerto Escondido, Mexico
• Vancouver to Mazatlán, Mexico

That is a pretty meaningful expansion.

For a long time, many of the most interesting sun and leisure additions out of Canada tended to be heavily concentrated in Toronto and Montréal. This move gives western Canadian travellers more direct access to destinations that previously may have required awkward eastbound routings or limited seasonal options.

Puerto Escondido, in particular, stands out. It has become one of Mexico’s trendier beach destinations in recent years, and a non-stop option from Vancouver should attract both leisure travellers and people looking for something a bit less resort-heavy.

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Smaller Canadian markets are getting some love too

This is also one of those route announcements where Air Canada did not forget about the rest of the country.

New non-stop winter routes also include:

• Montréal to Aruba
• Calgary to Cancun
• Calgary to Puerto Vallarta
• Edmonton to Montego Bay
• Winnipeg to Montego Bay
• Winnipeg to Punta Cana
• Québec City to Pointe-à-Pitre
• Halifax to Bridgetown

That matters.

For travellers outside Toronto and Montréal, direct winter sun options can make a huge difference in both convenience and total trip cost. Avoiding a domestic connection often means less stress, better timing, and sometimes a much more attractive overall fare.

The Winnipeg additions stand out especially well here. Non-stop flights to both Montego Bay and Punta Cana should be welcome news for Prairie travellers looking to skip the usual hub connection.

Similarly, Halifax to Bridgetown and Québec City to Pointe-à-Pitre feel like strong niche leisure plays that could do well with the right seasonal demand.

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What this says about Air Canada’s bigger strategy

Taken as a whole, this announcement tells us a few things about where Air Canada is heading.

First, the airline is clearly continuing to lean into leisure and sun demand, especially during the winter season when Canadians are actively looking for warm-weather escapes.

Second, it is showing more willingness to experiment with less obvious destinations rather than simply adding more frequency to already saturated vacation markets.

And third, aircraft like the A321XLR are going to give Air Canada far more room to get creative with future route planning. Tenerife may be the headline today, but it won’t be the last interesting long-thin route we see from the airline.

More competition, more unique routes, and more direct options usually mean more opportunity to find something that fits your budget, schedule, and travel style.

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Final Thoughts

Air Canada’s winter 2026-27 expansion is one of the more interesting sun network announcements we’ve seen from a Canadian airline in a while.

Tenerife is the clear standout, and it is the kind of route that feels genuinely fresh in the Canadian market. But the broader story is just as important: more direct access to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean from more cities across Canada.

For Canadian travellers, that is a win.

Flights are already available on Air Canada’s website.

Happy booking!