Air Canada is withdrawing from North Bay in 2026.
The news came through a Sept. 19 news release in which Air Canada cited a list of changes to its regional network.
"As part of these network adjustments, Air Canada is also taking the difficult decision to suspend operations to Bathurst and to North Bay effective Jan. 30, 2026, for commercial viability reasons," Air Canada stated in a release.
"Air Canada will implement these suspensions in line with its obligations under the Canada Transportation Act."
Among the changes, Air Canada announced new flights connecting Ottawa to both Fredericton and Moncton beginning Dec. 15, 2025, and non-stop flights from Vancouver to Fort McMurray starting Dec. 2, 2025. The airline is also increasing flights from Toronto to Sudbury as of Feb. 1, 2026. All flights will be operated with Air Canada Express Q400 aircraft.
“Air Canada is diversifying its domestic regional network this fall to capitalize on travel demand in growing markets. Our newest Ottawa routes will connect the National Capital Region to two expanding areas in New Brunswick — its capital city, Fredericton, and Moncton, the province’s largest urban and fastest growing area. We have strategically designed these New Brunswick flights to connect in Ottawa to and from our domestic and sun network for additional travel choices,” said Mark Galardo, executive vice-president and CEO, and president of Cargo, at Air Canada, in the release.
“The addition of non-stop flights from Fort McMurray to Vancouver, and more flights from Sudbury to Toronto, will link these airports directly to our Vancouver and Toronto hubs, bringing corporate travellers a multitude of connecting options throughout our global network,” concluded Mr. Galardo.
Air Canada had announced earlier this month that it was scaling back its North Bay service.
Bryan Avery, airport manager at Jack Garland Airport in North Bay, told BayToday on Sept. 10 that Air Canada planned to reduce its North Bay flights starting in November.
"I can confirm that Air Canada has informed us of their winter season schedule, which has changes to operate flights four times per week on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday," said Avery in an email to BayToday.
This isn't the first time Jack Garland Airport has had to deal with Air Canada flight cutbacks. In January 2022, Air Canada reduced its flight schedule to six days a week.
"As we have since the start of the pandemic, Air Canada continues to evaluate and adjust its route network as required in response to the trajectory of the pandemic, government-imposed travel restrictions and quarantines, regulatory requirements, and the impact of these factors on overall demand," Air Canada media stated to BayToday back in early 2022.
After being grounded for close to a year due to the pandemic, Air Canada resumed flights from North Bay to Toronto in June 2021.
Air Canada started back gradually in North Bay with three flights a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the first month back in operation. By late July 2021, that schedule increased to one flight per day.
In 2018, Air Canada, which had been offering four flights a day to North Bay, reduced its service to three flights a day as of July 2018.
Avery noted that Bearskin Airlines will be increasing its service to areas in Northern Ontario, including North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.