New winter airline routes take off from Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario

With winter settling in and one of the busiest travel seasons upon us, flights are filling up fast.

If you’ve been holding off on booking that much-needed getaway, now might be the perfect time. Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga is adding new and expanded routes this winter, offering more options to escape the cold or visit exciting destinations.

Here’s what’s taking off:

Beijing, China

Hainan Airlines has resumed its Toronto-Beijing route, which was paused in 2021 due to pandemic-related restrictions. The airline is now operating one round-trip flight per week.

According to a press release, flight HU7975 departs Beijing Capital International Airport at 2:20 p.m. local time on Sundays and arrives at Toronto Pearson at 2:10 p.m. the same day.

The return flight, HU7976, departs Toronto at 4:10 p.m. and lands in Beijing at 7:25 p.m. the following day. The service is operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Arajet Airlines has launched direct flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Punta Cana International Airport, enhancing travel options to the Caribbean. The service operates four times weekly—on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Phoenix, Arizona

According to airwaysmag.com, this route marks an exciting addition to the airline’s growing network in the Western U.S., offering convenient access to one of North America’s top destinations for sun and outdoor adventures.

The southbound flight departs Toronto at 10:30 a.m. and arrives in Phoenix at 12:01 p.m. The northbound flight leaves Phoenix at 1:05 p.m. and returns to Toronto at 8:21 p.m.

The airline operates the E195-E2 aircraft on this route, known for its fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact, which helps to lower operational costs.

 Thunder Bay, Ontario

Porter Airlines has introduced flights connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT), operating three times weekly. The service is provided on 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 jets, offering no middle seats, complimentary beer and wine, premium snacks and free high-speed Wi-Fi.

Porter has been serving the Thunder Bay community since 2009, with up to five daily round-trip flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) using its 78-seat Dash 8-400 aircraft.

West Palm Beach, Florida

Porter Airlines has inaugurated a nonstop route connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) with Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). This marks Porter’s sixth destination in Florida, alongside Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando and Tampa.

The daily service is operated on Porter’s 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, featuring no middle seats, complimentary premium snacks, Wi-Fi, and beer and wine served in glassware.

Flight Schedule:

• Toronto Pearson to West Palm Beach: Departs 2:25 p.m. and arrives at 6:35 p.m.
• West Palm Beach to Toronto Pearson: Departs 5:35 p.m. and arrives 9:50 p.m.

Travellers can also connect from West Palm Beach to Porter destinations in Eastern Canada, including Ottawa and Montreal.

Tulum, Mexico

WestJet has launched nonstop flights from Toronto Pearson to Tulum’s new international airport, expanding its reach in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The seasonal service, which also includes flights from Calgary, offers convenient schedules and connections across WestJet’s Canadian network.

Through WestJet Vacations, travellers can also choose from 30 major hotels near the airport, providing diverse accommodation options.

If international escapes aren’t on your itinerary, WestJet is also enhancing its domestic travel options for the holiday season, introducing weekly flights to:

• Ottawa, Ontario: A seamless new connection within the nation’s capital.
• Montreal, Quebec: Providing more options to visit Quebec’s largest city.