Air Canada's winter network: Quito, year-round Manchester and Copenhagen, and Calgary to Mexico

Air Canada's winter schedule starts in late October, and it brings several new options for travelers. The airline laid out the changes in a January 28, 2026 announcement. The biggest news is a new route to Quito, Ecuador. Two European routes from Toronto will also keep flying all year.

Here is what changes, route by route, and where you can wait before you fly.

New: Quito from Montreal and Toronto

Quito is the capital of Ecuador. Air Canada will fly there from two of its hubs:

• From Montreal: three flights a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), from December 4, 2026 to March 26, 2027. Flight AC962 leaves at 5:40 p.m. and lands just after midnight.
• From Toronto: one flight a week on Saturdays, from December 5, 2026 to March 20, 2027. Flight AC960 leaves at 5:55 p.m.

Return flights leave Quito at 9:00 a.m. Both routes use the Boeing 787-8 with three cabins: Signature Class, Premium Economy and Economy. Air Canada says the schedule is timed so passengers can connect in Toronto and Montreal to other parts of North America and to Europe.

Manchester and Copenhagen go year-round

Toronto to Manchester and Toronto to Copenhagen used to be summer routes. Starting in late October 2026, both will fly all year. Air Canada is placing a base of Airbus A321XLR jets at Toronto Pearson to make this possible.

• Manchester: four flights a week from October 25, 2026. AC908 leaves Toronto at 9:00 p.m. and lands at 9:00 a.m.
• Copenhagen: three flights a week from October 27, 2026. AC828 leaves Toronto at 9:15 p.m. and lands at 10:15 a.m.

The XLR is a single-aisle plane, but it has 14 lie-flat Signature Class seats. That makes an overnight flight to Europe on a smaller jet much more comfortable. We covered the new XLR cabin separately.

Calgary to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta

Calgary travelers get two nonstop sun routes back in December:

• Cancun: four flights a week, from December 11, 2026 to April 11, 2027
• Puerto Vallarta: three flights a week, from December 10, 2026 to April 10, 2027

Air Canada Rouge flies both routes on the Boeing 737 MAX. The airline says passengers get free beer, wine and Canadian snacks. Aeroplan members also get fast, free Wi-Fi.

More flights to South America

Air Canada is also adding flights and starting earlier on several South American routes:

• Toronto to Rio de Janeiro returns October 24, 2026, about six weeks earlier than last year.
• Toronto to Lima returns October 24 and goes from two to three flights a week.
• Montreal to Lima returns October 25 and also goes to three flights a week.
• Montreal to Santiago returns November 26, about three weeks earlier, and goes from three to four flights a week.
• Montreal to Bogota goes from three to four flights a week, on the 787 with lie-flat Signature Class seats.

Air Canada notes that its schedule times can change, so check your booking before you travel.

Where to wait before you fly

If you start in Toronto, international departures use the Maple Leaf Lounge (International). Our users rate it 4.6 out of 5, and it has six showers. That helps before an overnight flight to Manchester or Copenhagen. Montreal's international Maple Leaf Lounge serves the Quito, Lima, Santiago and Bogota flights. In Calgary, the Maple Leaf Lounge is one of the best-rated in Air Canada's network on Lounge Frog.

Maple Leaf Lounges are open to Signature Class passengers, Aeroplan 50K members and above, and Star Alliance Gold members. Some Aeroplan credit cards also give access. See the full rules on our Maple Leaf Lounge program page.

Air Canada has not said which lounges its passengers can use in Quito, Manchester or Copenhagen on the way home. Check our Air Canada page before your return flight.