Air Canada suspends JFK flights for nearly 5 months as fuel costs soar

Canada's flag carrier cites jet fuel price surge from Iran conflict as reason for service cuts to New York City's busiest airport.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:38pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life image of a single jet fuel canister with a price tag, floating on a clean, monochromatic background and dramatically lit to symbolize the financial pressures facing the airline industry.As jet fuel costs soar, airlines like Air Canada are forced to make difficult operational decisions that limit service and connectivity.NYC Today

Air Canada announced it will suspend flights from Toronto and Montreal to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport from June 1 to October 25 due to skyrocketing jet fuel prices stemming from the ongoing conflict with Iran. The airline will continue service to the New York metro area's other major airports, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty, but says the JFK route has become uneconomical.

Why it matters

The suspension of Air Canada's JFK service is a stark example of how the global energy crisis triggered by the Iran conflict is forcing airlines to make difficult operational decisions. Jet fuel costs have more than doubled since the start of the conflict, rendering some less profitable routes unsustainable for carriers already grappling with pandemic-era travel demand.

The details

Air Canada says the average price for a gallon of jet fuel reached $4.32 on Thursday, up from $2.50 the day before the war in Iran broke out. The airline normally offers 34 flights per day to the New York metro area from six Canadian cities, but will now focus that capacity on LaGuardia and Newark while suspending the JFK route. Air Canada will reach out to impacted customers to offer alternate travel options.

  • Air Canada's JFK service suspension will begin on June 1, 2026.
  • Air Canada's JFK service is scheduled to resume on October 25, 2026.

The players

Air Canada

Canada's national airline and flag carrier, headquartered in Montreal.

John F. Kennedy International Airport

One of the busiest airports in the United States, located in the New York City borough of Queens.

Argus Media

A global energy and commodity price reporting agency.

Fatih Birol

The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.

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What they’re saying

“As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower profitability routes and flights are no longer economic, and we are making schedule adjustments accordingly.”

— Air Canada spokesperson

“Europe has 'maybe six weeks' of remaining jet fuel supplies and the global economy faces its 'largest energy crisis'.”

— Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency

What’s next

Air Canada has not provided details on whether the JFK suspension could be extended beyond October 25 if jet fuel prices remain elevated. The airline says it will continue monitoring the situation and make further adjustments as needed.

The takeaway

The suspension of Air Canada's JFK service is a troubling sign of the broader economic impact the Iran conflict is having on the global aviation industry. As jet fuel costs soar, airlines are being forced to make difficult decisions that limit service and connectivity, further straining an industry still recovering from the pandemic.