Air Canada Launches Toronto-Shanghai Service on Air Canada Ultra-long-haul Route

Air Canada launched its air canada ultra-long-haul route this week with the first scheduled commercial service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The nonstop flight takes approximately 16 hours and restores direct service that had remained dormant since 2020.

Toronto Pearson to Shanghai Pudong

The route will operate four weekly flights in each direction year-round, giving travelers a direct option between the two airports instead of connecting through major Asian hubs. For passengers moving between Toronto and Shanghai, that changes the trip from a routed itinerary to a nonstop schedule.

Air Canada’s return to Shanghai arrives as North American carriers compete more aggressively for transpacific market share. The carrier is adding long-haul capacity while fuel prices have stabilized after the volatility of the pandemic period.

Direct Asian Service Returns

The relaunch also restores Toronto Pearson’s direct Asian service, a change that strengthens the airport’s position against rival North American hubs. Toronto now has a year-round nonstop link to a major Asian center, with the schedule set at four weekly flights both ways.

For travelers planning trips on this route, the practical change is simple: a direct flight is available again, and the schedule is fixed for the year. That makes the Toronto-Shanghai service the clearest sign in this story that the connection is not a one-off return but a standing part of Air Canada’s network.