Expedia Report: Thursday Cheapest Day to Fly for Canadians
Expedia's "Air Hacks 2026" report reveals Thursday as the cheapest day of the week to fly in Canada, driven by shifts in business travel. September is also identified as the most affordable month for travel.
Travel company Expedia has released its "Air Hacks 2026" report, indicating a significant shift in airfare pricing for Canadian travelers. The study identifies Thursday as the cheapest day of the week to depart, attributing the change in part to reduced end-of-week business travel. September has also emerged as the most cost-effective month for booking flights.
The report, which analyzes millions of Expedia data points alongside new consumer research, highlights how evolving traveler behaviors, such as the rise of "micro-cations" and carry-on-only packing, are reshaping travel patterns. Expedia's newly launched "Flight Deals" feature in Canada aims to help travelers find flights that are, on average, at least 20% lower than typical prices.
According to the findings, September is, on average, 26% cheaper than December. For domestic travel, January is the most affordable month. While Monday remains the cheapest day to book flights, flying on a Thursday can offer savings compared to Saturday, with Friday being the cheapest day for domestic departures.
The report also provides insights for avoiding crowds, suggesting Tuesdays are the least busy day to fly, while Fridays are the busiest. January is noted as the least busy travel month, contrasting with the peak in August. Additionally, a growing trend of "extreme micro-cations" is observed, where travelers undertake round-trip flights within a 24-hour period.