The Only 7 Cheap Airlines in Canada Worth Booking in 2026

653

Canada’s not a cheap country to fly around, and it got worse after Swoop, Lynx Air, and Canada Jetlines all went bust within about 18 months of each other. I’ve been tracking what’s left pretty closely, booking budget flights across the country whenever I can. The good news is 2026 is looking better than it has in a while.

I looked into every fare, baggage policy, and route map I could find to put together this list of the 7 cheapest airlines in Canada for 2026. Some are the usual suspects, some are smaller carriers most people skip right over, and one isn’t even Canadian. Domestic hops, transatlantic crossings, flights to Tokyo for the price of a nice dinner out… it’s all in here!

#1 tip to find cheap flights to Canada

Want alerts on cheap flights in Canada straight to your inbox? Sign up for Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), a membership-based service that finds huge discounts, mistake fares, and points and miles deals. Last year they helped me snag a return flight from Toronto to London for under $500 on Air Transat. All you have to do is enter your home airport and where you want to go, and from there, they’ll send you mistake fares and other ridiculously cheap flight deals.

There’s a free and a premium version, the free one has pretty much everything you’ll need. Though if you’re like me and travel a lot, it’s worth upgrading to the paid version for $49 per year. I recommend signing up for the free trial to try it for yourself. And if you like it, use my code JON25 for 25% off your membership!

1. 🇨🇦 Flair Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
• 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic one-ways from $29 CAD during sales, $59–149 at standard pricing
• ✈️ Fleet: 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 737-800s
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Small personal item free; carry-on and checked bags from ~$29 CAD
• 🏆 Loyalty Program: None
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Book during flash sales and pre-pay for bags at checkout. Waiting until the airport can nearly double your baggage fees.

Flair is the airline I always point people to first when they’re trying to fly across Canada without spending a fortune. It’s the last true ultra-low-cost carrier standing in the country, and base fares still regularly dip below the cost of a decent dinner out. I recently saw Calgary to Vancouver for under $50 one way.

The reason fares stay so low is the unbundled pricing model. Your base fare covers a seat and a small personal item that fits under your seat, full stop. Carry-ons, checked bags, seat selection, and food are all paid extras. That works great for a weekend trip with just a backpack, but for longer trips I’d recommend looking at the new Lite or Plus bundles they rolled out. These usually work out cheaper than adding everything separately.

Flair is in the middle of some big upgrades for 2026. New spring routes include Toronto to St. John’s and Moncton, plus the return of Vancouver to Montreal. They’ve launched Flair Vacations (flight and hotel packages), which can save you a decent chunk compared to booking separately. They’ve also partnered with Apple for AirTag baggage tracking (a first for a Canadian airline) and introduced an On Time Guarantee where you get a $60 voucher if your flight is delayed over an hour.

• For more airline tips: Cheapest Flights from Vancouver
• You may also like: These 9 Cheap Flights from Toronto Will Blow Your Mind

2. 🇨🇦 Porter Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), & hubs at Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, and Montreal
• 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic one-ways from $39 CAD during sales, $89–199 at standard pricing
• ✈️ Fleet: 50+ Embraer E195-E2 jets and De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Personal item included on all fares; carry-on included on Standard and above; first checked bag from $40 CAD
• 🏆 Loyalty Program: VIPorter (5 points per dollar spent, points don’t expire)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Fly from Billy Bishop downtown Toronto to skip the Pearson commute entirely. That alone saves you time and taxi money.

Porter is an airline that proves budget travel doesn’t have to feel budget. Every single passenger gets free beer and wine (served in real glassware), premium snacks, no middle seats, and free high speed Wi-Fi on the E2 jets. I genuinely don’t understand how they pull it off at these prices!

The reason it works is fleet efficiency. Their newer Embraer E195-E2s burn significantly less fuel than older regional jets, and by operating from downtown airports like Billy Bishop they avoid the sky high gate fees at major hubs. Those savings get passed along, and the experience feels closer to premium economy on most other airlines.

Porter is the fastest growing airline in North America right now, with a 20% network increase for summer 2026. New routes launching in May include Toronto City to Nashville (daily), Toronto Pearson and Montreal to Boston, Ottawa to Windsor, Sudbury, and Kelowna, plus Hamilton to St. John’s and Winnipeg. They’re also extending sun routes like Cancun, Costa Rica, and Nassau into summer for the first time. If you’re based in eastern Canada especially, Porter’s network is getting seriously hard to ignore.

• Prepare for the weather: Canada in the Cold: Tips to Survive in Quebec and Montreal
• You may also like: 13 Cheapest Places to Fly from Calgary

3. 🇨🇦 Air Transat

• 🏠 Base: Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• 💰 Typical Fares: Transatlantic roundtrips from $399 CAD off season; Caribbean/Mexico one-ways from $199 CAD
• ✈️ Fleet: Airbus A321neos and A330s
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Personal item and carry-on free on most fares; first checked bag free on transatlantic/Morocco/Peru routes; $35–50 CAD on other routes
• 🏆 Loyalty Program: MACH rewards program
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Fly Eco Budget for the lowest base fare and skip the checked bag. But if you’re heading to Europe, even the cheapest ticket includes a free checked bag and hot meal.

If you’re trying to fly across the Atlantic without spending four figures, start with Air Transat. No other Canadian airline consistently beats their pricing on transatlantic routes, and they’ve been doing this since the charter days when they shuttled snowbirds south every winter. They fly mainly from Montreal and Toronto to over 60 destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, and now South America.

The value on long haul flights is especially hard to beat. Even in economy, you get a free hot meal on overseas routes, which most budget carriers dropped years ago. Club Class costs roughly half what you’d pay for business class on Air Canada, and you get priority everything, a better seat, and upgraded meals. For the price conscious traveler who still wants to feel human after an eight hour flight, it’s one of the best deals in Canadian aviation.

Summer 2026 is their most ambitious schedule ever, with nine new routes being launched. Highlights include their first ever transatlantic service from Ottawa to London Gatwick, first nonstop flights to Brazil (Toronto and Montreal to Rio on A330s), and new routes to Albania, Ghana, and Senegal. If your dream trip used to require a connection through a US hub, check their route map again. It’s changed dramatically.

• Planning a staycation? Read this: The 12 Most Breathtaking Places in Canada

4. 🇨🇦 Air Canada Rouge

• 🏠 Base: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), & hubs in Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary
• 💰 Typical Fares: Leisure routes from $149 CAD one way during sales; Caribbean/Mexico roundtrips from $299 CAD
• ✈️ Fleet: Transitioning to 50+ Boeing 737 MAX 8s throughout 2026
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Personal item and carry-on included on most fares (Basic fares: personal item only); first checked bag from $35 CAD
• 🏆 Loyalty Program: Fully integrated with Air Canada Aeroplan
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Get the Aeroplan credit card and your first checked bag is free for you and up to 8 companions on the same booking. That alone can save a family of four over $200 roundtrip.

I’ll be honest, Rouge used to be the airline I’d warn people about. It was Air Canada’s budget leisure arm with cramped seats, no seatback screens, and a “stream to your own device” setup that never quite worked. The fares were cheaper than mainline Air Canada by $50 to $100 per segment on the same routes, but the experience felt like a downgrade you could literally feel in your knees.

That’s changing in a big way this year. Air Canada is transferring all 45+ Boeing 737 MAX 8s from its mainline fleet into Rouge throughout 2026, and the new cabin is a step up. Every seat now gets a personal seatback entertainment screen, free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members, and there’s a proper 12 seat business class cabin (plus 18 preferred economy seats with extra legroom). It honestly doesn’t feel like the same airline anymore. The fares are still noticeably cheaper than booking the same destinations on mainline Air Canada.

The route expansion is worth paying attention to as well. A new crew base opening in Vancouver means more direct leisure flights from the West Coast, including Honolulu, Kona, and Cancun. They’ve also added Montreal to Nantes, Toronto to the Azores, and Halifax to Brussels. And because everything you spend on Rouge earns Aeroplan points across the entire Air Canada and Star Alliance network, those cheap vacation flights compound into future savings.

• Check out my guide: Air Canada Business Class in 2026 (Seats, Perks, and Routes)

5. 🇨🇦 WestJet

• 🏠 Base: Calgary International Airport (YYC), & operations in Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax
• 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic one ways from $99 CAD during seat sales, regular domestic from $149 to $249 CAD
• ✈️ Fleet: Boeing 737s, 737 MAX 8s, and 787 Dreamliners for international routes
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Personal item and carry-on included on Econo fares and above. UltraBasic gets personal item only. First checked bag from $40 CAD if prepaid at booking
• 🏆 Loyalty Program: WestJet Rewards (earn and redeem in dollars, not points)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard gets you a free checked bag for yourself and up to 8 companions on the same booking. If you fly WestJet even twice a year, it pays for itself.

WestJet started as Canada’s scrappy low cost alternative to Air Canada back in 1996, and for years it was the budget option. That’s not really the case anymore. They’ve grown into a full service carrier with business class pods, Dreamliner jets, and lie flat seats on international routes. The fares reflect that shift, and on many domestic routes they’re priced close to Air Canada rather than undercutting them.

So, why do I include them on a cheapest airlines list? Because their network is massive and their seat sales are excellent. WestJet flies to over 100 destinations, and when they run promotions you can still find domestic one ways for under $100 and Caribbean roundtrips for under $400. Their WestJet Rewards program is also one of the most straightforward in Canadian aviation. You earn and redeem in real dollars with no blackout dates, no confusing point conversions, and no expiry.

The 2026 route map is worth a look if you’re planning international travel. They’re building Halifax into a Atlantic gateway with new direct flights to Madrid, Lisbon, and Copenhagen, and they’ve added their first ever South American route from Calgary to São Paulo. They’re also expanding Iceland service from Edmonton and Winnipeg.

On the flip side, they’ve pulled back significantly from US routes, cutting 17 and reducing capacity south of the border by about a third. So if you’re flying within Canada or heading to Europe, WestJet is increasingly competitive. For US trips, you’ll probably find better options elsewhere.

• You may also like: 13 Budget-Friendly Destinations to Fly from Halifax 

6. 🇨🇦 Pacific Coastal Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Vancouver International Airport, South Terminal (YVR)
• 💰 Typical Fares: One ways from $98 CAD (Vancouver to Campbell River), most routes between $130 and $250 CAD
• ✈️ Fleet: Saab 340s and Beechcraft 1900s (smaller regional turboprops)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: One carry on and one personal item free (up to 10kg each), checked bag included on Classic fares and above, from $25 CAD on Bravo
• 🏆 Loyalty Program: QuikPass bulk purchase program (discounted fares for frequent flyers)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: If you’re a full time student or BCAA member, Pacific Coastal offers exclusive discounts that can make already reasonable fares even cheaper.

Most people reading this list have probably never heard of Pacific Coastal, and that’s exactly why it deserves a spot. If you’re trying to explore British Columbia beyond Vancouver and Victoria, this locally owned airline connects 20 communities across the province that the bigger carriers either ignore or charge a premium to reach. Places like Bella Coola, Powell River, Tofino, and Campbell River are all on the route map.

The planes are small, usually 30 to 35 seats, and the experience feels more like a commuter shuttle than a commercial flight. You check in at YVR’s quieter South Terminal (no massive security lines), flights are short, and the staff know you by name if you fly regularly. The fares are reasonable for what would otherwise be a very long drive or an expensive float plane. The Classic fare includes a free checked bag, which is more than most major Canadian airlines offer in economy.

For frequent travelers, I recommend their QuikPass program. It’s a bulk purchase system where you deposit funds upfront in exchange for discounted fares, no change fees, and priority boarding. Pacific Coastal also recently added routes between Kelowna and Cranbrook and between Prince George and Kelowna, which fills some gaps in BC’s regional connectivity that have existed for years.

• Explore the region: 12 British Columbia Destinations That Look Straight Out of a Dream

7. 🇯🇵 Zipair Tokyo (Bonus Pick)

• 🏠 Base: Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT)
• 💰 Typical Fares: Vancouver to Tokyo from around $324 CAD one way (economy), Full Flat “business class” from around $1,400 CAD one way
• ✈️ Fleet: 8 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners (growing to 10 by late 2026, with 787-9s arriving 2027)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Two carry on items free (combined max 7kg), all checked bags extra starting around $60 CAD per bag. They are strict about weighing everything.
• 🏆 Loyalty Program: Zipair Point Club (free tier and paid Plus tier at ~$42 CAD/year for 30% off checked bags)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Always book directly through Zipair. Google Flights shows Zipair fares but the prices are often higher through third party sites. You can only add bags and meals through Zipair’s own site anyway.

Zipair isn’t a Canadian airline. However, if you live in Vancouver and want to get to Japan without spending $1,200 round trip on Air Canada or JAL, it’s the best important budget option available from Canadian soil right now. It’s Japan Airlines’ low cost subsidiary, and it flies Vancouver to Tokyo Narita four times a week in summer 2026.

The catch is that this is bare bones flying. Your ticket gets you a seat and access to the bathroom, and that’s about it. There’s no free food, no free water, no seatback screens, and no checked bags unless you pay. Even carry on weight is capped at 7kg, and the staff will weigh your bag at the counter. If you’re used to packing light and bringing your own snacks and entertainment, you’ll be fine. The free Wi-Fi on every flight is a nice touch and honestly more useful on a 10 hour flight than seatback movies would be.

The real hidden gem here is Zipair’s Full Flat product. These are proper lie flat reverse herringbone seats, the same hardware you’d find on a full service airline’s business class, except there’s no complimentary champagne or meal service. You still pay for everything, but a flat bed across the Pacific for $1,400 is roughly half what JAL or Air Canada charges for their business cabins. If you just want to sleep, it’s a remarkable deal.

• Read next: 12 Stunning Hidden Gems in Toronto