On October 23, 2025, Air Canada announced a major expansion at Toronto’s Billy Bishop City Airport, leveraging newly approved U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pre-clearance facilities slated to open in early 2026. Starting March 29, 2026, the carrier will operate four daily flights to New York LaGuardia, followed by service to Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles on June 1, and to Boston Logan on July 1. All routes will be flown by 78-seat Dash 8-400 turboprops under the Air Canada Express brand.
Billy Bishop’s tight footprint and proximity to downtown Toronto have long made it a favorite of business travelers, but lack of U.S. pre-clearance limited its transborder reach. With passengers now able to clear U.S. immigration before departure, Air Canada expects a surge in day-trip corporate traffic. The airline will add two more daily round-trips to Ottawa and an additional frequency to Montréal this January to feed the U.S. flights.
CBP pre-clearance aligns with Washington’s strategy to push border formalities offshore, easing pressure on congested U.S. airports. For American travelers, the move offers a streamlined return journey with arrival as a domestic passenger—an attractive perk for tight East-Coast connections.
Businesses should update preferred-supplier agreements as Air Canada’s dash-8 fleet is undergoing a cabin refresh featuring USB-C power and tablet holders, appealing to productivity-minded flyers. Travel managers may also renegotiate corporate discounts as competitive pressure mounts on Porter Airlines and U.S. carriers operating from Toronto Pearson.
Billy Bishop’s tight footprint and proximity to downtown Toronto have long made it a favorite of business travelers, but lack of U.S. pre-clearance limited its transborder reach. With passengers now able to clear U.S. immigration before departure, Air Canada expects a surge in day-trip corporate traffic. The airline will add two more daily round-trips to Ottawa and an additional frequency to Montréal this January to feed the U.S. flights.
CBP pre-clearance aligns with Washington’s strategy to push border formalities offshore, easing pressure on congested U.S. airports. For American travelers, the move offers a streamlined return journey with arrival as a domestic passenger—an attractive perk for tight East-Coast connections.
Businesses should update preferred-supplier agreements as Air Canada’s dash-8 fleet is undergoing a cabin refresh featuring USB-C power and tablet holders, appealing to productivity-minded flyers. Travel managers may also renegotiate corporate discounts as competitive pressure mounts on Porter Airlines and U.S. carriers operating from Toronto Pearson.
Bron: Business Travel News
