Which North American Airlines Offer Bus Services?

The aviation industry in North America is a diverse affair, with carriers of varying business models operating aircraft of all different shapes and sizes. This diversity is reflected in the network offerings of North American countries, with everything from regional feeder flights to ultra-long-haul intercontinental services on offer. However, as it happens, certain carriers from the region also use buses on some routes.

Air Canada recently joined the party

One airline that recently dipped its feet into the wonderful world of bus services is the Canadian flag carrier and Star Alliance founding member Air Canada. The Montréal-headquartered operator first announced its plans to add motorcoaches to its network offering in February 2024, with May 1st this year being targeted as the date for the start of these operations.

The aim was ultimately achieved, with Air Canada’s bus services now being just over a week old. The carrier has partnered with The Landline Company to realize this goal, and it now operates two motorcoach routes that connect the Hamilton-Wentworth and Waterloo Region to its hub at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Six round trips will be operated every day between Toronto and:

• John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM)
• Kitchener/Waterloo Airport (YKF)

Treated like a multi-leg plane booking

With journey times of around an hour and departures spread throughout the day, these services represent a quick and easy way for residents of these areas to connect to Air Canada’s wider network. Given their proximity to Toronto, no flights are offered, so the use of a dedicated bus transfer as part of a through itinerary is the best way to ensure that your connection is protected in the event of disruption.

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As pictured above, the buses used as part of Air Canada’s motorcoach offering feature a spacious three-abreast configuration. According to the airline, there are 36 seats onboard, with passengers able to access free WiFi and in-seat power. Passengers check in as normal at their departure airport before boarding the bus, with Air Canada’s Director of Regional Airlines & Markets, Ranbir Singh, stating that:

“We are excited to launch this new service in collaboration with The Landline Company, offering our customers a convenient, stress-free multimodal option that will make connections easy and travel more seamless.

“Passengers who choose to travel between airports using Landline’s top-tier motorcoaches will enjoy similar benefits as those who opt for air-only connections: a convenient single itinerary, when departing Hamilton or the Region of Waterloo, disruption protection and Aeroplan earning opportunities.”

American Airlines

In recent years, Landline has made a name for itself as a provider of bus services for North American carriers, with American Airlines also having got in on the act not too long ago. In 2022, the US legacy carrier and oneworld founding member teamed up with Landline to offer bus connections from its hub at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), linking the facility to Allentown, Atlantic City, and Lancaster.

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Image: Landline

These transfers work in a similar way to those offered by Air Canada, with passengers checking in at the airport before boarding the bus. American Airlines notes that, for passengers traveling with checked baggage, this is transferred directly from the bus to their connecting flight in Philadelphia, giving users of the service one less thing to have to think about when changing from bus to plane.

Last year, an interesting development to the service occurred, which has further streamlined the connection experience for passengers using American Airlines’ bus services. Specifically, passengers departing from Allentown and Atlantic City remain security screened between there and Philadelphia, meaning that, unlike guests departing from Lancaster, they don’t have to clear TSA again after the bus.

United Airlines

For passengers looking to travel to Colorado to engage in outdoor pursuits, fellow US legacy carrier United Airlines has devised a partnership of its own with Landline. According to the airline, passengers flying into its hub at Denver International Airport (DEN) can instead choose Fort Collins as their final destination, prompting the booking engine to add a connecting bus journey to their through itinerary.

Photo: United Airlines

These bus shuttles operate five times a day, and depart from gate B83 at Denver International Airport, with the transfer of checked baggage also looked after by United Airlines in order to give connecting passengers that extra peace of mind. This is also done for passengers traveling in the other direction, allowing them to begin their journey at Fort Collins and connect to United’s network in Denver.

Sun Country Airlines

Landline bus services aren’t exclusively the domain of full-service carriers such as Air Canada, United, and American Airlines. Indeed, according to budget operator Sun Country Airlines, the ultra-low-cost carrier offers connecting motorcoach services from its base at Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to five destinations in the surrounding region.

Photo: Sun Country

Listed by state, these are:

• Minnesota – Brainerd, Duluth, Rochester.
• North Dakota – Fargo.
• Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

Did you know about the various bus offerings of these North American carriers? If so, have you ever used any of them yourself? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!