Air travel is facing challenges due to the surge in fuel prices. Air Canada has announced the early suspension of service on four seasonal routes to U.S. destinations due to the high cost of jet fuel. The affected routes and their last flight dates are as follows: Toronto to Sacramento on August 1, Vancouver to Raleigh on July 29, Toronto to Charleston on September 6, and Montreal to Austin on September 7.
Air Canada intends to resume full service on these routes in the summer of 2027. The airline assures affected passengers that they will be provided with alternative travel options or refunds, depending on the circumstances.
Various airlines worldwide have started reducing flights in response to the conflict in Iran and the resulting oil blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a significant increase in jet fuel prices. Last month, Air Canada announced the suspension of six domestic and cross-border routes deemed financially unviable.
In a similar move, WestJet announced a capacity reduction of approximately one percent in April, three percent in May, and nearly six percent in June by consolidating flights on certain routes and shortening the seasonal service duration to multiple destinations.
The jet fuel scarcity has also impacted airfares, prompting Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, and Air Transat to announce fare hikes or surcharges to counter the escalating costs.
