Air Canada Returns to Ecuador: Direct Flights from Montreal and Toronto to Quito Starting December

Canadian expats and snowbirds, mark your calendars. Air Canada announced on January 28 that it's launching nonstop service between Quito and two of Canada's largest cities, reconnecting Ecuador to the Canadian airline network for the first time in years.

The Routes

Montreal (YUL) – Quito (UIO)

• Frequency: Three times weekly (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday outbound)
• Outbound (AC962): Departs Montreal 5:40 PM, arrives Quito 12:10 AM
• Return (AC963): Departs Quito 9:00 AM, arrives Montreal 3:15 PM
• Season: December 4, 2026 – March 27, 2027

Toronto (YYZ) – Quito (UIO)

• Frequency: Once weekly (Saturday outbound)
• Outbound (AC960): Departs Toronto 5:55 PM, arrives Quito 12:10 AM
• Return (AC961): Departs Quito 9:00 AM, arrives Toronto 3:10 PM
• Season: December 5, 2026 – March 21, 2027

Aircraft and Cabins

Both routes will operate on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which means a wide-body, long-haul experience with three cabin options:

• Signature Class — Lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, premium dining
• Premium Economy — Extra legroom, enhanced meal service
• Economy — Standard seating with seatback entertainment

The 787 is a significant step up from the narrow-body aircraft that typically serve Latin American routes. For anyone who's endured a five-hour flight in a cramped A320, this will feel like a different experience entirely.

Hub Connections

Air Canada designed these schedules to connect through its Montreal and Toronto hubs, which means travelers can reach Quito from destinations across Canada, the United States, and Europe with a single connection. For expats with family in smaller Canadian cities—Halifax, Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver—this opens up routing options that didn't previously exist on a single airline.

Why It Matters for the Expat Community

Canadians make up a significant share of Ecuador's foreign resident population—second only to Americans in most estimates. Until now, Canadian expats flying home typically routed through Miami, Houston, Panama City, or Bogotá. Direct service from two major Canadian cities eliminates the need for those connections during the winter season.

The December-through-March schedule aligns neatly with Canadian winter, which is exactly when most expats want to visit family for the holidays or when Canadian visitors want to escape south.

Pricing

Air Canada hasn't published official introductory fares in the press release, but booking searches show economy round-trips starting around CAD $1,056 from Toronto and CAD $1,176 from Montreal. Expect prices to climb as seats fill, particularly around Christmas and New Year.

What About Cuenca-Based Expats?

The flights land in Quito, not Guayaquil. For Cuenca-based Canadians, that means adding a domestic connection. LATAM and Avianca both operate multiple daily flights between Quito and Cuenca (roughly 45 minutes), with round-trips typically running $80–$120.

Alternatively, if LATAM's new Cuenca-Galápagos route signals a broader expansion of Cuenca's airport, direct Canadian service to Cuenca someday isn't impossible—but it's not on the horizon yet.

The Executive Take

Mark Galardo, Air Canada's Chief Commercial Officer, said the expansion reflects "continued demand strength and cargo opportunities" in Latin America. The airline is also boosting routes across Europe and resuming Calgary-to-Mexico service.

Flights are on sale now at aircanada.com.

Source: Air Canada, GlobeNewsWire