Air Canada axes new flight from Toronto to Mexican vacation destination

Air Canada has officially pulled the plug on one of its upcoming flights to Mexico before the planned seasonal route from Toronto even had a chance to take off.

According to multiple aviation news outlets, the airline has removed its Toronto to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo route from its winter schedule. The service was originally set to operate once weekly from Oct. 29 until April, 2027.

Located on Mexico's Pacific coast in the state of Guerrero, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a popular vacation destination that's known for its beach resorts and postcard-worthy scenery. Travelling from Toronto to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport currently requires one or two layovers, often in Calgary or a U.S. city.

The cancellation comes just as Air Canada prepares to ramp up its operations for its upcoming winter season, which runs from Oct. 25 to March 27. The airline has announced plans to increase capacity across its entire network by 10 per cent, with additional service to several destinations like San Francisco, New York, Cancun, and London.

Although the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo route is no longer on the schedule, Air Canada is still preparing to expand its service to Mexico with a new route to Mérida, the capital and largest city of the state of Yucatán.

The airline is set to launch flights between Toronto and Mérida on Nov. 21, with service operating twice weekly on Mondays and Saturdays.