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Air Canada is making a major move for winter 2026-2027. The Canadian airline has just announced the launch of direct flights to Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, from Toronto and Montreal. This is the only non-stop connection between North America and the Spanish archipelago. In addition to this flagship destination, four new cities are being added to the network: Roatán, Santo Domingo, Mérida, and Mazatlán. Several new non-stop routes to the Caribbean and Mexico complete this massive expansion.
Flights are already on sale at aircanada.com. Consult our page on the best Aeroplan credit cards to maximize your points on these new routes. You can also find other new Air Canada destinations for 2026-2027, including Quito and Sapporo.
Tenerife (TFS), the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, becomes accessible non-stop from Canada. Toronto offers two weekly departures (Thursday and Sunday), while Montreal offers one departure on Saturdays. The season runs from late October 2026 to late April 2027.
These flights will be operated with Air Canada’s brand-new Airbus A321XLR. This aircraft features 14 lie-flat seats in Signature Class and 168 seats in economy class, for a total capacity of 182 passengers. The A321XLR also inaugurates Air Canada’s next generation of cabins.
Beyond the flight, Tenerife is worth the trip in its own right. The largest of the Canary Islands brings together a UNESCO-listed volcano, hilltop villages, black- and white-sand beaches, and mild temperatures even in the middle of winter. Here’s what’s worth seeing, and where to stay while making the most of your points.
Teide National Park is the first place to see. The volcano rises to 3,715 m, making it the highest peak in Spain and the third-highest volcano in the world. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, covers 190 km² of almost lunar landscapes. A cable car takes you from 2,356 m up to 3,555 m in 8 minutes, very close to the crater.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the island’s second UNESCO-listed site, charms visitors with its historic centre and colourful façades. The village of Masca, tucked away at the bottom of a ravine, gives access to one of the most spectacular mountain roads in the archipelago. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital, and the Anaga massif, a biosphere reserve since 2015, round out a few days’ visit.
The south of the island is home to sunny seaside resorts like Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas, with water around 21°C in winter. The north, greener and wilder, offers volcanic black-sand beaches like Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz. Allow about a 1-hour drive between the two coasts.
Tenerife enjoys a mild climate year-round, with coastal temperatures of 20 to 24°C in winter. Air Canada’s direct-flight season, from late October to late April, therefore falls right in the middle of Canadians’ winter escape season. Plan for 7 to 10 days to combine beaches, hikes, and villages. Renting a car remains the best way to reach the volcanic interior.
Major loyalty chains are present in the Canary Islands. In Tenerife, the Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama, in Guía de Isora, can be booked with Marriott Bonvoy from around 40,000 points per night, a great rate for a five-star. For a look at the Bonvoy experience in the archipelago, check out our review of the AC Hotel Iberia Las Palmas on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria.
Air Canada is adding four entirely new airports to its winter network. Roatán in Honduras, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, and Mérida and Mazatlán in Mexico join the destination map. However, some routes remain subject to approval by the relevant governments.
*Subject to government approval.
In addition to the new destinations, Air Canada is launching 11 new non-stop routes to sun markets from several Canadian cities. Vancouver sees the largest expansion, thanks to the growing A220 and Air Canada Rouge bases. Cities like Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec, and Halifax are also getting new direct connections to the Caribbean.
Flights to Tenerife mark the debut of the Airbus A321XLR in Air Canada’s fleet. This long-range narrow-body aircraft offers an experience comparable to that of a wide-body. The chosen configuration includes 14 lie-flat seats in Signature Class and 168 seats in economy class.
The A321XLR also inaugurates a new design standard for Air Canada’s cabins. The carrier has been preparing for several months for the arrival of this aircraft, which will allow for more targeted transatlantic routes, such as the one to the Canaries.
Here is what Air Canada’s Signature Class could look like on this narrow-body aircraft (photo credit SAFRAN – VUE Model):
All these new routes are bookable with Aeroplan points. Points pricing at Air Canada is fully dynamic, meaning prices vary based on date and demand. For flights to the Caribbean and Mexico, points rates are generally advantageous when you book early.
Toronto-Tenerife and Montreal-Tenerife flights fall into the 0 to 4,000-mile distance band of the Aeroplan chart for transatlantic flights. The other announced routes follow the North America pricing chart. Note that Aeroplan credit cardholders benefit from preferred pricing in points.
To accumulate the maximum number of points on your Air Canada ticket purchases, here are the cards that offer the best rates:
Consult our full selection of the best Aeroplan credit cards to compare all available options.
This announcement particularly benefits travelers based in cities that lacked direct connections to the South. Edmonton lands a daily flight to Montego Bay in Jamaica. Winnipeg gets Montego Bay and Punta Cana. Quebec adds Guadeloupe, and Halifax gains a direct flight to Barbados.
For residents of these cities, these new routes eliminate a connection and several hours of travel. This is a major change for planning a winter stay without transiting through Toronto or Montreal.
Air Canada Vacations will offer packages to several of these new destinations. The offer includes hotels, cruises, excursions, and car rentals. Packages will be available for purchase at aircanadavacations.com.
For those who prefer to book flight and accommodation separately, flights are already on sale at aircanada.com. Consult the official Air Canada press release for all the details.
The addition of Tenerife to Air Canada’s network is the most significant announcement. No other North American airline offers a direct flight to the Canary Islands. The use of the A321XLR with Signature Class makes this destination accessible in business class with lie-flat seats, making it a serious option for high-end travelers looking for European sun in winter.
The expansion to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America from Vancouver, the Prairies, and the Maritimes fills real gaps in the winter network. All these flights are bookable with Aeroplan points. Sign up for our newsletter to follow the best offers and strategies for using your points on these new routes. Also, visit our best credit cards page to prepare for your next trip.
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