Air Canada Suspends Montreal - Algiers Service Amid Fuel Cost Pressures
Air Canada has cancelled its seasonal non-stop service between Montreal and Algiers for 2026, citing the impact of the Iran conflict on jet fuel costs, which have more than doubled, rendering the route economically unviable. The four-times-weekly Airbus A330-300 service, which was due to operate from 1 June to 3 September, has been removed from the schedule entirely. The airline has indicated it may consider relaunching the route for the 2027 summer season. The cancellation leaves Air Canada with a single African route - its Montreal to Casablanca service, which continues to operate multiple times weekly.
The Montreal - Algiers route, which Air Canada has served since 2017, is underpinned by a significant Algerian diaspora in Quebec, estimated at between 60,000 and 70,000 people. Air Algérie will maintain connectivity on the city pair through its daily year-round service, now operated with the Airbus A330-900 following the flag carrier's receipt of its first A330neo aircraft in late 2025. The suspension reflects broader schedule adjustments being made by airlines globally in response to rising fuel costs, with the Iran crisis continuing to exert pressure on long-haul route economics.
Source: Simple Flying