Montreal-Lyon: Air Canada Switches to the A330 on October 25
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Air Canada replaces the Airbus A321XLR with an Airbus A330-300 on the Montreal-Lyon route starting October 25, 2026. The airline points to demand from Canadian travellers heading to the French Alps ski resorts. The schedule calls for 3 weekly flights in November, then 4 per week from December through late March.
The route turns ten this year. For a Canadian skier, this Montreal-Lyon flight is the shortest way into Savoie and Isère: a 2-hour drive from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport to the first resorts. We have followed this route since it launched. The switch to a widebody in midwinter changes one thing above all: the number of seats available, and therefore your odds of finding an award seat.
Montreal-Lyon flight: the A330 from October 25
Air Canada put its new A321XLR on the route in early September 2026, with up to five weekly flights. The winter season then shifts to the A330-300, a far larger aircraft.
Lyon airport describes that aircraft as a three-cabin A330-300 seating 297. It also notes that Air Canada is the only carrier offering year-round transatlantic service from Lyon, which sets this route apart from purely seasonal ones.
- October 25, 2026: switch to the Airbus A330-300 for the winter season
- November: 3 flights per week
- December through late March: 4 flights per week
- March 29 to April 30, 2027: the A321XLR returns, 5 flights per week (AC876 and AC877)
Jean-François Raudin, Air Canada’s France director, puts a number on the demand in Lyon Capitale: some flights carry 232 pairs of skis. The airport itself reports 164 pairs over a single weekend, and calls it a genuine operational challenge.
That is where the aircraft choice matters. An A330 does not just add seats, it adds hold space. On a route where passengers travel with two-metre ski bags, the constraint is not the number of seats, it is the volume below the floor.
Will your Aeroplan points go further?
More seats means more inventory to fill. As a result, Aeroplan award seats generally open up more easily on a widebody than on a 150-seat narrowbody.
Aeroplan publishes a flight rewards chart by zone and distance band. Montreal-Lyon falls in the 0 to 4,000-mile band of the Atlantic zone: expect from 32,500 points in economy and 60,000 points in business.
Those are floors, not averages. On Air Canada flights the price then climbs with date and demand, and the median observed in business reaches 133,800 points, more than double the advertised floor. On other partner airlines, the rate stays fixed.
| Cabin, Air Canada flight | Starting from | Observed median |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 32,500 points | 40,800 points |
| Premium Economy | 50,000 points | 75,600 points |
| Business | 60,000 points | 133,800 points |
| First | 90,000 points | not published |
Atlantic zone, 0 to 4,000 mile band, the one Montreal-Lyon falls into. Source: Aeroplan flight reward chart.
Here is one winter date. For a February 15, 2027 departure, the non-stop books at 30,200 points plus $81 in taxes in economy, below the published floor. The day before, February 14, the same trip asks 32,500 points but $211 in taxes.
On that February 15 flight, business class wants 186,400 points. The step up from economy therefore costs more than 150,000 points, a gap the 60,000-point floor gives no hint of.
In addition, a flight operated by Air Canada earns Aeroplan points and status qualification, unlike a flight bought through a tour operator. To compare your options, see our page on the best Aeroplan credit cards.
The cards that pay for the flight
A transatlantic ticket in winter is a significant expense. However, a welcome offer often covers a good part of the trip. Here are the cards we single out for this kind of travel, with the estimated first-year value from our own evaluation.
| Card | Program | Estimated value, year 1 | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card | Aeroplan | $1,603 | Earns directly on Air Canada flights |
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card | Aeroplan | $1,503 | First checked bag free |
| RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card | RBC Avion Rewards | $1,391 | Book on any airline |
| National Bank World Elite® Mastercard® | À la carte | $1,373 | Well suited to the Quebec market |
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $120 | |||
| $0 |
Click a card name to see the full offer. To widen the comparison, see our page on the best credit cards or our selection of Aeroplan cards.
Lyon, the gateway to the Alps
Lyon-Saint-Exupéry serves the major resorts of Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère. In addition, the airport runs direct shuttles to the valleys during the winter season.
Before you ski, the city is worth a two-day stop. For a sense of what a week on the slopes costs when you pay with points, read our account below.
Our take on the upgrade
This aircraft change does not lower ticket prices. It does, however, add seats on four weekly departures at the height of ski season, which feeds directly into award availability.
Our practical advice: watch January and March dates, which draw smaller crowds than spring break. Moreover, book early if you want Signature Class, because the A330 offers only a limited number of those seats.
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,139
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 50,000 points
Apply Now
on CIBC's website
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Montreal-Lyon flight – Frequently asked questions
Here are questions we see most often in the Milesopedia community about the Montreal-Lyon flight.
Which aircraft does Air Canada use between Montreal and Lyon this winter?
From October 25, 2026, Air Canada operates an Airbus A330-300 on the route. The A321XLR covers the line before that date, then returns from March 29 to April 30, 2027. Aircraft type can change during the season, so check it when you book.
How many weekly flights connect Montreal to Lyon?
The winter schedule calls for 3 flights per week in November, then 4 per week from December through late March. In spring, frequency rises to 5 weekly flights with the A321XLR.
How many Aeroplan points does a Montreal-Lyon ticket cost?
Aeroplan’s flight rewards chart places Montreal-Lyon in the 0 to 4,000-mile band of the Atlantic zone, so from 32,500 points in economy and 60,000 points in business. Those are floors: on Air Canada, the median observed in business climbs to 133,800 points. Compare several dates before you confirm.
Which credit card should you choose for this ski trip?
To earn on Air Canada flights, the CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card are a good fit. If you would rather book on any airline, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card gives you more flexibility. Compare them on our page of Aeroplan cards.
How long is the drive from Lyon to the ski resorts?
Allow roughly 2 hours by road between Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport and the major resorts of Savoie and Isère. Seasonal shuttles also serve the valleys directly from the airport during winter.
Does a larger aircraft improve award availability?
Usually yes. An A330-300 offers considerably more seats than a narrowbody, so there is more inventory to fill. That said, Air Canada remains free to release award seats or not on any given departure.
Does my travel insurance still cover me after 65?
Not always, and rarely for the full length of a ski holiday. Of the 151 cards we document, 30 drop emergency medical travel insurance at 65, and average covered duration falls to 6.4 days. Read your insurance certificate before you leave, then buy separate coverage if needed.
Is it better to fly through Paris or Lyon to go skiing?
Lyon puts the resorts about 2 hours away by road, against 4 to 5 hours from Paris by TGV then coach. On the other hand, Paris offers more daily departures from Montreal. Choose on award availability rather than distance alone.
