EXPEDIA 2026 AIR HACKS: THURSDAY TAKES OFF AS THE CHEAPEST DAY TO DEPART FOR CANADIANS

TORONTO--( BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Expedia ® released its 2026 Air Hacks Report, revealing a major shift in traveler savings: Thursday has become the cheapest day of the week to fly, driven by reduced business travel at the end of the week. The report shows that September is the most affordable month to travel, with international destinations, Raleigh, Amsterdam and Dublin seeing some of the biggest fare drops.

Now in its tenth year, the Expedia Air Hacks Report draws on millions of Expedia data points and new consumer research to highlight how changing traveler behaviors, from micro-cations to carry‑on‑only packing, are reshaping when Canadians choose to take to the skies.

“Business travelers head home earlier in the week these days, so new opportunities are opening up for leisure travelers to save by choosing smarter travel days, like Thursday for the best prices or Tuesday for fewer crowds,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations. “With Expedia’s Flight Deals now available in Canada, travelers can find quality flights that are at least 20% cheaper than the norm.”

Key Air Hacks for 2026 include:

Check our Expedia’s latest Air Hacks HERE.

APPENDIX

EXPEDIA 2026 AIR HACKS

Cheapest day to BOOK is a Monday, most expensive is Saturday (3% saving)

Cheapest month to BOOK is July, most expensive is November (13% saving)

Cheapest day to FLY is a Thursday, most expensive is Saturday (8% cheaper)

September is the most affordable month to fly, with December the most expensive (26% cheaper/ 175 CAD average)

The most affordable time to book a domestic economy flight is 31 – 45 days out, the most expensive is 180+ days out – 185 CAD difference in price.

The most affordable time to book an international economy flight is 15 -30 days out, the most expensive is 180+ days out – 190 CAD difference in price.

Time of day to fly:

Top 10 most popular destinations Canadian’s fly to:

Domestic:

International:

Top 10 trending destinations Canadian’s fly to:

Domestic:

International:

Extreme Daytrips: Top international destinations Canadian’s fly to for just 24 hours:

Tuesday is the least busy day of the week to fly, with Friday being the busiest

Airports that are trending upwards based on flight bookings:

The most affordable Canadian airports to fly out of are Abbotsford, BC (257 CAD), Kitchener, ON (341 CAD) and Hamilton, ON (478 CAD)

The most expensive Canadian airports to fly out of are Montreal YUL (884 CAD), Quebec YQB (850 CAD) and Ottawa YOW (783 CAD)

Saver Routes: International flight routes for under 400 CAD

Saver routes: International flight routes seeing the biggest YoY decease in price (25%+ savings):

Data disclaimers:

All average ticket pricing data and 24-hour destinations are based on bookings made on Expedia.ca from December 2024 – November 2025, with any comparison metrics compared to December 2023 – November 2024

Most popular and trending destinations based on searches made on Expedia.ca from December 2024 – November 2025, compared to searches made December 2023 – November 2024

Third-party research was conducted by market research partner OnePoll in accordance with the Market Research Society’s Code of Conduct. The Study was conducted online among 7,000 adult respondents across seven countries, who are planning domestic or international travel in the next 12 months.

Expedia’s Annual Vacation Sale is subject to limited availability. Blackout periods may apply.

About Expedia

Expedia ® is an all-in-one travel shop where travelers can plan and book everything they need for their trip while saving on flights, hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, and activities.

Expedia delivers personalized, easy‑to‑use travel tools that make it easy to build a complete trip without juggling multiple sites, while allowing travelers to search, compare, and book multiple trip elements side by side. Expedia also unlocks more value with Bundle & Save deals, giving travelers amazing savings when they book more than one part of their trip. With One Key, Expedia’s cross‑brand loyalty program, every eligible booking earns OneKeyCash™, while also giving travelers access to member‑only prices and perks, making trips even more rewarding.

In 2026, Expedia marks its 30th anniversary. As the first online travel agency, it continues to be the one place you go to go places.

For more information, use our mobile app or visit expedia.com. Follow Expedia on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, X and YouTube.