budget travel
Cheapest Months to Fly from Canada to Europe: Month-by-Month Breakdown
Airfare to Europe from Canada swings wildly by month. We break down exactly when you'll find the lowest prices and when to avoid booking.
Published 2026-04-10 · 10 minute read
A round-trip flight from Toronto to London can cost CAD $500 in January or CAD $1,800 in July. Timing is the single biggest factor in what you'll pay for transatlantic flights. Here's a detailed breakdown of pricing trends by month so you can plan your trip around the cheapest windows.
Month-by-Month Price Guide
| Month | Price Range (CAD) | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | $450-700 | Cheapest | Best deals of the year after Jan 7 |
| February | $450-700 | Cheapest | Valentine's week slightly higher |
| March | $500-800 | Cheap | Prices rise toward spring break weeks |
| April | $550-850 | Good | Easter week is more expensive |
| May | $600-1,000 | Moderate | Shoulder season begins, prices climbing |
| June | $800-1,400 | Expensive | Summer premium kicks in |
| July | $1,000-1,800 | Most Expensive | Peak summer demand |
| August | $900-1,600 | Expensive | Slightly less than July |
| September | $550-900 | Good | Prices drop fast after Labour Day |
| October | $500-800 | Cheap | Great weather in Southern Europe |
| November | $450-700 | Cheapest | Avoid US Thanksgiving week |
| December | $550-1,200 | Mixed | Early Dec cheap, holiday weeks expensive |
The Sweet Spots
The absolute cheapest windows are mid-January through mid-February and early November through mid-December (before the holiday rush). You can find round-trip fares from Toronto to major European cities for CAD $450-600 during these periods. September after Labour Day is also excellent — you get warm weather in Europe at shoulder-season prices.
Best Routes from Major Canadian Cities
From Toronto (YYZ)
Toronto has the most European routes and the strongest competition, so prices are generally the lowest. Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, and many others compete. London, Paris, Lisbon, Dublin, and Barcelona tend to have the cheapest fares. Budget carriers like Norse Atlantic (when operating) offer sub-$400 fares.
From Montreal (YUL)
Montreal benefits from strong competition on routes to Paris (Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, Corsair). Paris is often the cheapest European destination from Montreal — fares can drop to CAD $400 round trip in low season. Other competitive routes include London, Lisbon, and Barcelona.
From Vancouver (YVR)
Vancouver-to-Europe flights are typically CAD $100-200 more than from Toronto due to the longer distance. London and Frankfurt are the most competitive routes. Consider positioning flights to Toronto if the savings justify the extra leg.
Booking Strategies for the Cheapest Fares
- Book 2-4 months ahead for economy class in peak season (June-August)
- Book 1-3 months ahead during shoulder and off-season (September-May)
- Tuesday/Wednesday departures save 10-20% over weekend flights
- Red-eye (overnight) flights are usually CAD $50-100 cheaper
- Open-jaw tickets (fly into London, home from Paris) can save money and time
- Consider flying into smaller airports (Porto instead of Lisbon, Lyon instead of Paris)
- Track fares on CanadaFlies and set alerts for your preferred routes
Hidden Gems: Cheapest European Destinations
Beyond the obvious London and Paris routes, some destinations are consistently cheaper due to airline competition or promotional fares:
- Lisbon: Air Transat and TAP Portugal compete heavily, fares from CAD $450
- Dublin: Aer Lingus offers competitive fares year-round from CAD $500
- Reykjavik: IcelandAir's stopover program means cheap fares from CAD $400
- Barcelona: Strong competition keeps fares reasonable from CAD $500
- Bucharest: Surprisingly cheap via connections, from CAD $550
- Porto: Air Transat seasonal service keeps prices low from CAD $450
Flexibility is your biggest money-saver. If you can shift your trip by even a few weeks from peak to shoulder season, you can save CAD $300-800 per person. Use CanadaFlies' price calendar to see exactly how prices change day by day for your route.