Tampa airport gets two new Canadian connections

Tampa International Airport will join with Lynx Air, a Canadian commercial passenger service, to offer two new nonstop routes to Toronto and Montreal in November.

Lynx Air, which describes itself as an "ultra-low-cost airline," will begin serving Toronto Pearson International Airport on Nov. 16, and Montreal-Pierre Trudeau International Airport on Nov. 17. Both routes will fly four times per week, according to a news release from the Tampa airport (TPA).

Lynx Air is now the 21st passenger carrier flying to the Tampa airport, and the third to offer nonstop service to Canada, airport officials say.

"Lynx Air (is) the first Canadian carrier to launch new service to TPA since the pandemic," says Joe Lopano, TPA CEO, in the release. "Our community is closely linked with our Canadian neighbors, who are the largest source of international visitation, home ownership and foreign direct investment in Tampa Bay."

Tampa International Airport currently has nine round trips (nine coming in and nine going out) to Canada per week, according to Josh Gillin, airport spokesperson. With Lynx adding its routes, and with seasonal routes to Ottawa and Halifax being added later in the year, that number will jump to 42 Canadian roundtrips — 42 into and 42 out of — the Tampa airport.  

The Lynx Air routes are the first new routes to TPA for the Calgary-based airline, which launched in April 2022. Lynx Air serves 16 destinations with seven new Boeing 737 aircraft, according to Lynx Air officials. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 10 aircraft by the end of 2023, and has orders in place for an additional 36 planes, Lynx Air says.

"We are thrilled to connect travelers to one of the most vibrant destinations in the U.S.," says Merren McArthur, Lynx Air CEO.

Lynx Air's fares to TPA will start as low as $99 with taxes and fees, but the airline will also offer other discounts on its website as a celebratory promotion.

Tampa International Airport serves 23 million annual passengers with routes to 80 nonstop destinations.