01 · The big picture
Why airlines are adding sun routes
In the first quarter of 2026, trips that included a US visit fell 10.6%, while trips that included an overseas visit rose 6.2% (StatCan, Q1 2026).
Canadians cut back on US trips in 2025 and early 2026. Statistics Canada says return trips from the US were down 22.0% in January 2026 from a year earlier, while trips from overseas were up 10.6% (StatCan, Jan 2026). US travel has been recovering since spring: in August 2026, return trips from the US were up 8.8% from August 2025, though air trips to the US were still 22.7% below August 2024 (StatCan, Aug 2026). Airlines planned this winter's schedules during that shift, and Pearson has more sun choices as a result.
02 · New routes
New nonstops from Toronto Pearson
Porter is flying its Embraer E195-E2 jets to four new sun spots from Pearson, and added Turks and Caicos in June (Porter, Porter, Turks and Caicos). Air Canada added Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Roatán in Honduras and Mérida in Mexico from Toronto (Air Canada), plus a weekly Quito flight (Air Canada). Dates are what the airlines announced and can change.
| Destination | Airline | Starts | Frequency | Fares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aruba (AUA) | Porter | Oct 30, 2026 | 5x weekly at peak | Search |
| Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS) | Porter* | Nov 6, 2026 | 5x weekly | Search |
| Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) | Porter | Nov 16, 2026 | 3x weekly at peak | Search |
| Mérida, Mexico (MID) | Air Canada* | Nov 21, 2026 | Mon and Sat | Search |
| Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) | Porter* | Nov 23, 2026 | 5x weekly at peak | Search |
| San José, Costa Rica (SJO) | Porter* | Dec 2, 2026 | 4x weekly at peak | Search |
| Quito, Ecuador (UIO) | Air Canada | Dec 5, 2026 | Saturdays | Search |
| Roatán, Honduras (RTB) | Air Canada* | Dec 13, 2026 | Sundays | Search |
| Tenerife, Spain (TFS) | Air Canada | Oct 25, 2026 | Thu and Sun | Search |
*Announced as subject to government or regulatory approval. Dates are the airlines' announced start dates and can change; check the airline before you book.
03 · Old favourites
Punta Cana, Cancún and Florida
Punta Cana: Flair is going from two to five flights a week between Pearson and Punta Cana from January 7 to February 15, 2027 (Open Jaw). Punta Cana is mostly an all-inclusive trip, so compare RedTag.ca packages with a flight-only fare.
Cancún: Porter already flies to Cancún, along with Puerto Vallarta, Nassau, Grand Cayman and Liberia, Costa Rica (Porter). See our Toronto to Cancún flights page and Cancún hotels on Trip.com.
Florida: still the classic family trip. See Toronto to Orlando and Toronto to Fort Lauderdale.
04 · Booking tips
How to get a good fare
Search a few days either side of your ideal dates. Weekend departures in February and March are usually the busiest.
For school breaks, start early with our March Break guide.
Provincial health plans pay only a small part of emergency care outside Canada, so it's worth sorting out travel medical insurance before you leave.
Heading south this winter? Find out what coverage makes sense for you.
Do I need travel insurance? Take the 1-minute quiz →The quiz is free. If you then get a quote, it's from our partner TuGo, and we may earn a commission.
FAQ
Traveller questions
What new flights from Toronto are there for winter 2026–27?+
Porter is adding Aruba, Turks and Caicos, Los Cabos, Montego Bay and San José, Costa Rica from Pearson. Air Canada is adding Tenerife, Mérida, Roatán and Quito.
When do Porter's Toronto–Aruba flights start?+
Porter announced a start date of October 30, 2026, with up to five flights a week.
Is there a nonstop from Toronto to Costa Rica?+
Porter announced Toronto–San José starting December 2, 2026, up to four times a week. It was announced subject to regulatory approval, so check Porter's site.
Do I need travel insurance for a winter sun trip?+
Your provincial health plan covers very little outside Canada. Take our 1-minute quiz to see what kind of coverage fits your trip.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Last checked October 12, 2026. Schedules and rules change, so always confirm with the airline or the official source before you book or travel.
- Porter, new winter 2026–27 destinations (Apr 30, 2026): https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260430131474/en/Porter-Introduces-4-New-Winter-Destinations-for-2026-27-Season-Increases-Sun-Capacity-by-Greater-Than-150
- Porter, Turks and Caicos flights (Jun 2026): https://www.flyporter.com/en-us/about-porter/media-centre/news-details?title=Porter+further+expands+sun+network+with+Turks+and+Caicos+flights+2026+06
- Aruba Airport Authority, Porter service: https://www.airportaruba.com/index.php/press-releases/direct-flights-canada-porter-airlines
- Air Canada, winter 2026–27 sun routes incl. Tenerife, Roatán, Mérida (Apr 6, 2026): https://www.aircanada.com/media/air-canada-brings-the-sun-next-winter-new-flights-to-the-canary-islands-plus-more-vacation-options-from-coast-to-coast/
- Air Canada, Quito and winter network (Jan 28, 2026): https://www.aircanada.com/media/more-global-choices-more-cities-more-sunshine-next-winter-air-canada-adds-quito-more-europe-year-round-and-resumes-calgary-mexico-routes/
- Open Jaw, Flair YYZ–Punta Cana frequency (May 22, 2026): https://openjaw.com/newsroom/airline/2026/05/22/flair-airlines-increases-punta-cana-frequency-for-winter-peak/
- Statistics Canada, travel January 2026: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260323/dq260323a-eng.htm
- Statistics Canada, National Travel Survey Q1 2026: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260825/dq260825a-eng.htm
- Statistics Canada, leading indicator August 2026: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260911/dq260911b-eng.htm