United and Air Canada Add Six Cross-Border Routes for Summer 2027

Cross-border flying between Canada and the United States has been shrinking. Data from Cirium, cited by The Points Guy, puts total flights and seats between the two countries in 2026 roughly 6% below where they were two years earlier. So news of new routes stands out, and on October 17 United Airlines and Air Canada announced six of them for summer 2027.

The two carriers have run a joint venture since 2022 and are both Star Alliance members, so the routes are designed to work together. The plan is still under review by Canadian regulators, so treat the details below as announced rather than final.

United's three new Canada routes

• Newark (EWR) to St. John's (YYT), a summer seasonal service. It is United's first Newark–St. John's flight since 2016, and it makes St. John's the airline's easternmost Canadian destination, a title Halifax holds today.
• Denver (DEN) to Ottawa (YOW).
• Denver (DEN) to Quebec City (YQB).

For Newfoundland, this matters. WestJet is currently the only airline flying between the U.S. and St. John's, so a second carrier gives travellers on both sides another option. For Ottawa and Quebec City, a Denver link opens one-stop connections into the American West and the Rockies through one of United's biggest hubs.

Air Canada's three new U.S. routes

• Louisville (SDF) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ), scheduled from April 28 to October 31, 2027.
• Indianapolis (IND) to Montreal (YUL), daily from June 1 to September 30.
• Newark (EWR) to Edmonton (YEG), four times a week from June 1 to October 17.

Edmonton travellers gain a direct link to the New York area for the summer, and Montreal adds a Midwest city that previously needed a connection.

The routes going away

Air Canada is also dropping five U.S. routes, citing commercial reasons:

• Boston to Billy Bishop Toronto (YTZ)
• Charleston to Toronto Pearson
• Nashville to Vancouver
• Raleigh-Durham to Vancouver
• Seattle to Montreal

If you fly one of these regularly, expect to connect through a hub instead. Vancouver travellers heading to Nashville or Raleigh-Durham will likely route through a U.S. or Canadian hub, and Montreal-to-Seattle trips will need a stop.

What this means if you're planning a trip

Watch the on-sale dates. New routes often open for booking months ahead, and seasonal services fill quickly at the start and end of their runs. If a new route fits your summer plans, set a reminder to check when it opens.

Think about the connection, not just the nonstop. Some of the biggest wins here come from the hubs. Denver gives Ottawa and Quebec City travellers easier access to Colorado, Utah and the Pacific Northwest. Newark connects St. John's and Edmonton with United's East Coast and transatlantic network.

Check what happens to your booking. If you already hold a ticket on a route being cut, the airline should contact you with options. Review your booking and know your rights under Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations before accepting a change.

Book the stay with the flight. When a new route opens, hotel demand at the destination often rises with it, especially in smaller cities with limited rooms. Once you've chosen your dates, it's worth looking at your hotel early. You can compare flights and book a hotel in one place, or browse our U.S. travel deals for ideas.

The bigger picture

Six routes won't reverse a 6% drop in cross-border capacity on their own, and five cuts on the other side of the ledger shows airlines are still reshuffling where they fly. For travellers in St. John's, Ottawa, Quebec City and Edmonton, though, summer 2027 should bring more choice than this year. We'll keep an eye on schedules and fares as the routes go on sale.