An Air Canada Express plane prepares to take off from from Toronto's Billy Bishop airport in September.

Air Canada AC-T is launching new flights to the United States from Toronto’s island airport, expanding its footprint on rival Porter Airlines’ home turf with daily routes to four cities.

Canada’s largest airline said on Thursday it will begin new flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington by the spring, and increase service to Montreal and Ottawa by the winter.

The airport, adjacent to downtown Toronto and popular with business travellers, is adding U.S. customs preclearance facilities that will streamline cross-border travel.

“This is our most significant expansion at Toronto Island since Air Canada first served the airport 35 years

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