Air Canada will suspend flights from Toronto and Montreal to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from June 1 to Oct. 25, as surging jet fuel costs driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict force the airline to cut less profitable routes.
The move, announced Friday, affects three daily flights from Toronto and one from Montreal. Air Canada said the decision follows a sharp rise in fuel prices, which have more than doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, significantly impacting operating costs across the aviation industry.
“As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower profitability routes are no longer economic, we are making schedule adjustments accordingly,” a spokesperson said, adding that affected passengers will be offered alternative travel arrangements.
Despite the suspension, Air Canada will continue to serve the New York market, maintaining 34 daily flights to LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, limiting broader disruption for travellers.
Fuel crisis reshapes airline strategies
The decision highlights how quickly escalating geopolitical tensions are feeding into global aviation. The conflict involving Iran has disrupted energy supply chains, tightening availability and pushing jet fuel prices sharply higher at a time when airlines are entering the peak summer travel season.
Industry experts say the situation marks one of the most severe fuel shocks in aviation history. John Gradek, an aviation management lecturer at McGill University, recently described the current environment as the worst crisis the sector has faced, warning that recovery could take years due to damaged refining capacity in the region.
The strain is not limited to Air Canada. WestJet earlier this month announced it would consolidate flights on several lower-demand routes, reducing capacity by one per cent in April and three per cent in May, signalling broader pressure across North American carriers.
The wider risk lies in fuel availability as much as price. The International Energy Agency has warned that Europe may have only weeks of jet fuel supply remaining if disruptions persist, raising the possibility of further cancellations across international travel networks.
Uncertainty clouds summer travel outlook
Although Iran signalled that the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil shipping route — has reopened following a ceasefire agreement, uncertainty remains. The United States has indicated that its naval blockade will stay in place until a broader deal is reached, leaving energy markets volatile.
Oil prices briefly fell more than 10 per cent after the reopening announcement, but analysts caution that supply chains will take time to stabilise, meaning airlines could continue to face elevated fuel costs in the months ahead.
For travellers, the immediate impact may be limited to route changes and potential rebookings. But the broader implication is growing instability in global air travel, with airlines increasingly forced to balance demand against rapidly shifting operating costs.
As fuel pressures persist, more carriers may follow with capacity cuts or route suspensions, raising concerns that disruptions could extend well into the summer travel season.
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