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A new international travel option is available to Austinites interested in a non-stop destination from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
That's because Air Canada on May 3 began its new route between Austin and Montreal that it announced last fall. The route is seasonal and will run four days a week until October, according to ABIA, connecting Austin's airport with Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL). Air Canada already operates nonstop flights connecting Austin to Vancouver and Toronto.
The launch of the new international route comes in the wake of recent news that ABIA will lose one of its existing international routes beginning Aug. 5 — a Southwest Airlines flight to Cozumel, Mexico. The loss of that route is part of wider cutbacks at Southwest nationally after the airline recently reported quarterly financial results that came in below Wall Street expectations.
Despite the cutbacks, however, Southwest remains the largest carrier at ABIA, where it handled more than 8.5 million passengers in 2023. The Dallas-based airline will still operate 50 nonstop flights from the Texas capital, according to the airport's website.
"This new destination not only demonstrates our dedication to expanding international travel opportunities for our passengers, but also enhances economic and cultural ties between Texas and Canada," said ABIA CEO Ghizlane Badawi, who recently took the helm permanently after serving as interim CEO since January. "It underscores our airport's vital role as a community asset, fostering regional growth and connectivity."
ABIA is in the process of executing an ambitious master plan that will add a new terminal to the airport. Read about the expansion and construction opportunities here.
