Air Canada is shutting the doors of its Signature Suite at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) — widely considered one of the best business class lounges anywhere — to make the space bigger. The closure begins September 30, 2026, and the airline expects the original space to reopen that December, with the full expansion finished in early 2027.
The suite opened in 2017 and works differently from a regular airline lounge. Access is tied to specific long-haul business class fares rather than status alone, so think of it more like an exclusive restaurant tucked above the terminal. Its main draw is the food: proper à la carte dining alongside a buffet, a setup few airline lounges attempt. The catch is space. As Air Canada has added long-haul routes over the years, the room has struggled with crowding, which is presumably the main driver behind the expansion — more seating at minimum, with new amenities still under wraps.
So what happens to eligible passengers during the closure? They'll be directed to the International Maple Leaf Lounge with a dedicated priority queue, plus a pop-up at Gate E85 offering grab-and-go food and drinks. Fair warning: with the suite's usual crowd funnelling into the standard lounge, expect that space to feel significantly busier for those few months.
Here's the part worth highlighting. Anyone holding a Signature Suite-eligible ticket during the closure will receive a guest pass for a future visit to the expanded suite, issued once it opens in early 2027 and valid until December 31, 2028. The pass works with any Air Canada flight departing to an international destination — any cabin, and you can use it yourself or hand it to a companion. It's an unusually generous move; airlines typically just post an apology sign when a lounge closes for renovation.
For travellers, the practical read is this: if you've booked a premium long-haul fare out of Toronto in late 2026, adjust expectations and plan your pre-flight meal accordingly. But if you're flying later, there's a genuine bonus — book an eligible fare during the closure window and you could score two visits for the price of one. The two-year validity and the expanded space should keep things from getting overcrowded, so passes shouldn't be too hard to redeem comfortably.
It's rare to see an airline turn a temporary downgrade into a long-term perk, and it says something about how much Air Canada values this particular product. If you've been meaning to try one of the world's standout dining-focused lounges, the expanded version arriving in early 2027 might be the best moment yet.