United and Air Canada add six US-Canada routes for summer 2027

United Airlines and Air Canada have announced six new routes between the United States and Canada for summer 2027, alongside a planned expansion of their partnership, according to The Points Guy. United announced three of the routes on Friday, including a return to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, while Air Canada is adding three US routes of its own. The proposed deeper cooperation is under review by Canadian regulators.

United's three new Canadian routes

The Points Guy reports that United Airlines will add Newark to St. John's International Airport (summer seasonal), Denver to Ottawa and Denver to Quebec City. The Newark to St. John's service will be the first time United has flown the route since 2016, and it will become the airline's easternmost Canadian destination. That title currently belongs to Halifax, which United serves from three US cities.

According to the same report, WestJet is currently the only carrier flying between the US and St. John's, so the new route adds a second option.

Air Canada's three new US routes, and five cuts

Air Canada has announced these routes for summer 2027, as listed by The Points Guy:

• Louisville to Toronto Pearson, operating between 28 April and 31 October 2027.
• Indianapolis to Montreal Trudeau, daily between 1 June and 30 September.
• Newark to Edmonton, four weekly flights between 1 June and 17 October.

The carrier will also cut five US routes, as first reported by Ishrion Aviation and confirmed by The Points Guy: Boston to Billy Bishop Toronto, Charleston to Toronto Pearson, Nashville to Vancouver, Raleigh-Durham to Vancouver and Seattle-Tacoma to Montreal. Air Canada told the outlet it cited "commercial reasons" and regularly reviews capacity against demand. The two airlines also plan extra flights or larger aircraft on a handful of existing routes, though the source gives no details.

Wider partnership and market context

The announcement came with an agreement to expand cooperation on US-Canada service. The airlines already share a joint venture, dating to 2022, that lets them coordinate schedules and pricing, and both belong to Star Alliance. The expanded proposal is awaiting review by Canadian regulators. United's chief network planner, Patrick Quayle, said in a statement shared by Air Canada that the routes underline a commitment to "investing in Canada".

The Points Guy adds that demand between the two countries has been volatile. Citing Cirium, it says flights and seats across all airlines in 2026 are down roughly 6% on two years earlier.

What this means for travellers

Travellers in Newark, Denver, Louisville and Indianapolis gain new nonstop options to Canadian cities, and the joint venture and Star Alliance link mean connections across the two networks may be easier to book. Newfoundland-bound passengers from the New York area get a second carrier alongside WestJet, which could affect choice, though the sources do not discuss fares.

The downside is on the cut routes. Passengers who fly Air Canada between Boston and Billy Bishop, Charleston, Nashville, Raleigh-Durham or Seattle and the affected Canadian cities will need alternatives or connections once the changes take effect. The sources do not give the end dates for those routes, the aircraft types for the new services, or the outcome of the regulatory review. Those wanting to compare the carriers can see our United Airlines vs Air Canada comparison, or the Air Canada vs WestJet page for the Canadian options.

Sources: The Points Guy