Air Canada Temporarily Suspends Service from Toronto and Montreal to JFK Due to Fuel Costs

Rising fuel costs have led Air Canada to temporarily suspend service from Toronto and Montreal to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, effective June 1st through October 25.

Multiple Canadian media outlets are reporting the suspension which affects one flight from Montreal and three from Toronto daily.

Air Canada will continue service into New York’s La Guardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

In a statement to CBC News, an airline spokesperson said “As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower profitability routes and flights are no longer economic, we are making schedule adjustments accordingly.”

Earlier this week, industry experts sounded the alarm that Europe in particular has about six weeks left of jet fuel before they run out, with the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol calling it the largest energy crises the world has faced.

In a release on Friday (April 17) the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called its assessment of potential jet fuel shortages “sobering”.

“We have also estimated that by the end of May we could start to see some cancellations in Europe for lack of jet fuel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “This is already happening in parts of Asia. Along with doing everything possible to secure alternative supply lines, it’s important that authorities have well-communicated and well-coordinated plans in place in case rationing becomes necessary, including for slot relief.”

Air Canada is not the only airline scaling back service due to the fuel shortage. Earlier this month, West Jet Group announced it would be implementing temporary a fuel surcharge on WestJet Rewards Companion Vouchers, a fuel surcharge on Sunwing Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec vacation packages and consolidating flights on lower demand routes. Air Canada Vacations has also implemented a fuel surcharge of $50 per person on all flights booked after April 6 to Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, select U.S. cities.

On their March first quarter earnings call, Air Transat CEO Annick Guérard confirmed they have also added fuel charges on flights to Europe, saying they’ve blended the charges into the total price.