Air Canada Expands Ottawa-London Route with Year-Round Service
Air Canada has announced the extension of its Ottawa to London route to year-round service, now offering three weekly flights with the Boeing 787 between November 2025 and March 2026. This development follows the introduction of the route just six months ago.
Boeing 787 Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch Customer | All Nippon Airways |
| First Delivery | September 25, 2011 |
| Number Delivered | 1,138 |
| Production Sites | Everett, Washington, USA; North Charleston, South Carolina, USA |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
Route Success and Upcoming Changes
Air Canada initially launched the Ottawa to London Heathrow route in March, utilizing the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with four weekly rotations. Originally a seasonal service, flights were scheduled to end in October.
The route’s success has prompted Air Canada to extend it to year-round service. From November 2, 2025, until March 27, 2026, flights will occur on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, using the smaller Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Mark Gallardo, Executive Vice President at Air Canada, stated:
“Air Canada continues to solidify its leadership serving our country’s capital, and we are excited to keep Ottawa connected to one of the world’s most important global gateways all year long.”
Cargo Benefits and Scheduling
The Ottawa-London route extension also benefits cargo customers, facilitating goods shipment across the Atlantic. Air Canada flight AC888 departs Ottawa at 21:55, arriving in London at 09:20 the next day. The return flight, AC889, leaves London at 21:00 and reaches Ottawa at 14:30.
The Boeing 787-8 provides 255 seats across three classes, while the 787-9 features 298 seats, indicating a variance in demand. Despite the seasonally reduced flights, the continuation of winter service is a new development that contrasts with initial plans.
Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu highlighted, “the extension of the Ottawa-London service will give Canadian businesses faster and more reliable access to the UK and Europe.”
Summer Operations with Airbus A330-300
With the conclusion of the winter season on March 27, 2026, Air Canada will resume four weekly flights using the Airbus A330-300 for summer operations. This aircraft offers more premium seating: 56 seats are in non-economy cabins compared to the Boeing 787-9’s 51, with 32 seats in business class and 24 in premium economy. This adjustment demonstrates a focus on premium demand on this route.
