In a recent update of the Cirium platform, significant changes for Air Canada’s service to Chile in 2024 were revealed.
After 21 years of uninterrupted service (except for the pandemic), the airline will cease flying between Toronto/Pearson (YYZ) and Santiago (SCL) starting April 1, 2024.
While a resumption date is not yet listed in the system, in response to an inquiry from Aviacionline, Air Canada confirmed that the route to Santiago will be operated seasonally, with no flights between April and October, during which time they will use the code-share agreement with Avianca to move passengers via Bogotá, and that of LATAM to move them via Sao Paulo.
Although the route had good load factors, the decision to suspend it during the summer season in the northern hemisphere responds to the need to relocate their fleet to European destinations.
For Chile, the loss of Air Canada represents a substantial blow, especially considering that Aeroméxico has also switched to seasonal operation, and American Airlines has opted to operate its flights to Dallas/Fort Worth exclusively during the southern summer.
Recently, Air Canada increased its frequency from 4 to 5 weekly flights, replacing the Boeing 787-8 with the -9 variant, offering a total of 2,960 weekly seats for the current summer season.
According to the Civil Aviation Board of Chile (JAC), during the first nine months of 2023, Air Canada transported 66,321 passengers with an average load factor of 85%, compared to 69,364 passengers in the same period of 2019.
Brief History of Air Canada in Chile
Before the pandemic, Air Canada’s operations included a continuation to Buenos Aires/Ezeiza (EZE), Argentina. Briefly, between May 2018 and March 2019, the company operated exclusive flights between Toronto and Santiago.
The company has been operating uninterruptedly in Santiago since December 2, 2003 (except for the pandemic), when it began flying three times a week with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with a capacity for 212 passengers. Due to the success of the route, it increased to a daily flight in the following months, and in the summer season of 2009/2010 began to operate with Boeing 777-300 (ER) aircraft.
The operations with Boeing 777 during the summer season increased the seat capacity by 40% between Chile, Argentina, and Canada, offering 349-400 seats per flight.
The company continued with this scheme of Boeing 767 in the low season and Boeing 777 in the high winter and summer seasons until March 2017, when it replaced the old 767s with Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Air Canada in South America
Currently, Air Canada operates 36 weekly flights to South America, which translates into an offer of 10,722 seats per direction:
- Toronto – Sao Paulo: one daily flight with Boeing 787-9.
- Toronto – Sao Paulo – Buenos Aires: five weekly flights with Boeing 787-9 (continuation of the previous daily service).
- Toronto – Bogotá: three weekly flights with Airbus A330-300.
- Montreal – Bogotá: three weekly flights with Boeing 787-9.
- Montreal – Sao Paulo: three weekly flights with Boeing 787-9.
- Toronto – Santiago: five weekly flights with Boeing 787-9.
