Air Canada Cancels All Flights To U.S. Snowbird Destination After Only 2 Years Of Service

Air Canada has canceled all flights to a southern U.S. state that has grown in popularity as a Canadian snowbird destination in recent years. And that’s not the only snowbird destination the Montreal-based carrier has cut recently; it ended another last year. It temporarily stopped service between Toronto and Jacksonville before resuming service in May this year.

In 2027, Canada’s largest airline will stop operating flights to South Carolina, just two years after it resumed the route, with no timeframe for a return, according to Simple Flying‘s analysis of data from aviation analytics company Cirium.

Air Canada Slashes All Flights To U.S. Snowbird Destination That It Only Resumed In 2024

Air Canada first resumed its seasonal service to South Carolina in March 2024 from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Charleston International Airport (CHS), the only route the carrier operated to the state. In its first year, the route saw 200 departures and 15,200 seats available from Toronto.

In the final year, flights and seats were more than halved, with just 92 departures and 6,992 outbound seats.

Simple Flying’s analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data found that 66.5% of seats were sold between March 2024 and July 2026. The first year was slightly higher at 67.8%, and 2025 fell to 62.1%, despite offering fewer flights and less seat capacity.

The aviation news outlet found that the percentage rose in July of this year, but it wasn’t enough to save the route from the chopping block.

“It rose to 67.5% through July 2026, but clearly all the results were very poor. No month exceeded 70.0%.”

Air Canada first debuted the route over 20 years ago. Operated between 2001 and 2002, the service marked the first regularly scheduled nonstop flight to Charleston from outside the U.S.

When it restarted service in 2024, it ran daily, but in 2025, Air Canada scaled the route back to five days a week — Thursday through Monday.

South Carolina has been a popular destination for Canadians. According to a 2025 study from Travel South USA, Canadians make up the largest percentage of international visitors to South Carolina, with 2023 seeing 523,000 Canadians visiting the state. However, the study found that the number is declining, estimating 480,000 Canadian visitors to South Carolina in 2025.

Despite this, several Myrtle Beach resorts halved their prices this year with a special Canadian discount. However, Air Canada’s reasoning for slashing the South Carolina route reflects the study’s findings.

Air Canada Reveals Why It Once Again Cut Its Only Route To South Carolina

An Air Canada spokesperson told local Charleston newspaper The Post and Courier that the decision to cut the route came as part of its route review process based on customer demand.

“Air Canada regularly reviews its schedule to ensure capacity is aligned with customer demand and travel patterns,” the spokesperson told the outlet. “As part of that process, we have made the decision to discontinue our summer 2027 Charleston-Toronto seasonal route for these commercial reasons.”

The spokesperson added that the airline does not have a date for when the route could once again resume.

“While we do not have a date as to when we would restart the route, we do review route opportunities regularly,” the spokesperson said.

In 2026, the service resumed on April 1, expanding its schedule from 2025 to six flights per week, Sunday through Friday. It was expected to continue through October, as in previous years, but Air Canada cut the seasonal nonstop route early on September 6.

That doesn’t mean the route will end permanently, according to Gary Edwards, an air service consultant based in the Charleston area.

“It’s not a no, not ever; it’s just no, not now,” Edwards told the Charleston newspaper.

He added that, in his view, Air Canada remains the Canadian airline partner best positioned to serve Charleston.

“I fully believe they’re the partner that we need for the Canadian market,” Edwards said. “We’re not shopping for another carrier. We want to maintain the working relationship that was built on both sides of the border.”

The cancellation doesn’t just mark Air Canada’s exit from South Carolina; it leaves Canadians without any nonstop routes to the U.S. state.

Air Canada Slashed Several Other U.S. Routes That It Began Operating In Recent Years

WestJet formerly operated a route between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), which it canceled in 2020. Porter Airlines also operated a seasonal service to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), but from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). It last operated that service in 2022.

Air Canada added several U.S. routes in recent years while also cutting some. On October 26, Air Canada will begin a new snowbird route between Fort Myers, Florida, and Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), operating twice per week.

However, Air Canada has removed several routes for next year, with no service slated to resume. In addition to the Charleston service, Air Canada has removed flights to Nashville and a North Carolina destination.

According to Simple Flying’s analysis of Cirium data, here’s a breakdown of the flights that Air Canada has removed for next year:

Canadian snowbirds wishing to visit South Carolina next summer may have to opt for a multi-stop itinerary to reach the Palmetto State.

TheTravel contacted Air Canada for comment.