Canada is a diverse, peaceful, and welcoming nation, known for its nature and stunning natural beauty. It is a vast and varied country, a truly beautiful place to visit and enjoy unforgettable experiences.
Peru is one of the most important destinations for Canadian visitors, as Canada ranks eighth among the main sources of tourists to our country.
Nevertheless, Air Canada —the North American country's most representative airline— decided to suspend the direct flights it operated between Lima, Toronto, and Montreal.
"We never wanted to leave Peru. Obviously, Lima is a very important destination for us within the route network. Moreover, beyond tourism, there is a very significant business exchange, especially in the mining sector, which is extremely attractive for Canadian investors," said
Alfredo Babun, Air Canada's Regional Manager for Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, in an interview with the Official Gazette El Peruano.
Lack of aircraft
The executive explained that this decision was mainly due to a logistics issue.
"In other words, it was a matter of aircraft shortage. The company supplying us with these planes delayed an order by two years and, unfortunately, we had to cut many routes, including Lima," Babun explained.
This decision not only affected the airline's operations in our country but also disrupted the company's flight expansion plan to Europe.
"We have already overcome that problem and resumed our operations. We want to strengthen our presence in the Latin American region and promote Canada's image as a major tourist destination," the executive stated.
Objectives
"Within these objectives, Peru could not be left out, and that is why we are very pleased with the resumption of direct flights between our main cities and Lima," Babun asserted.
Thus, the Air Canada representative explained that the Lima–Toronto and Lima–Montreal routes will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which have a capacity of 255 passengers distributed across three classes: 20 seats in Signature Class, 21 in Premium Economy, and 214 in Economy Class.
This airline will begin its direct operations from December 5, 2025, through March 27, 2026.
The company plans to expand to Guyana, El Salvador, northeastern Brazil, among other emerging markets in the region.
Infrastructure
The Air Canada Regional Manager stated that the airline's return to Peru comes at a very important time for the country, especially following the launch of the new Jorge Chavez International Airport.
"Definitely, having such impressive infrastructure as Jorge Chavez Airport places Peru in a very promising position for tourism development. It is essential to rely on the adequate infrastructure to boost the tourism sector, and Peru has been doing this properly," Babun commented.
He added that Peru not only represents a starting point to other South American markets but will also strengthen its position as a source of regional tourists traveling to Canada.
Bilateral trade
Last June, Peru exported goods and services worth US$582 million to Canada, a 44.8% increase compared to June 2024, when trade amounted to US$402 million.
Over the past five years, trade has grown at an annualized rate of 12.8%.
Peruvian exports to Canada reached US$3.840 billion in 2024, up 26.2% from the previous year.
Exports included US$3.462 billion in traditional goods and US$378 million in non-traditional goods.
Meanwhile, imports from Canada reached US$1.432 billion, increasing by 18.1% in purchase amounts compared to the previous year.
Data
In 2024, Canadian travelers made 33.2 million outbound trips, with a total international tourism expenditure of US$41.7 billion.
Canadian tourists visiting Peru are mainly young and have a high spending capacity.
They seek cultural and gastronomic experiences, although there is growing interest in nature and adventure. Most plan their trip in advance, but many prefer tour packages.