Canadian leisure airline Air Transat is expanding its European offerings with the launch of four new routes set for the summer of 2024. This move reinforces the airline’s position as the eighth-largest operator between North America and Europe, with plans for a 7% increase in services compared to July 2025. By next July, Air Transat will operate 40 European routes, a notable rise from 35 in the same month last year.
As of December 26, Air Transat aims to provide an average of five weekly departures across its network, with a significant number of routes having less than daily frequency. Notably, the airline will introduce a new service from Toronto to Istanbul, featuring two to three flights per week.
New Route Details and Seasonal Operations
Half of the newly announced routes are brand new to Air Transat. Starting on June 2, 2024, the airline will commence weekly seasonal flights from Quebec City to Nantes using its Airbus A321LR. In a parallel move, Air Canada plans to initiate flights between Montreal and Nantes next year.
Beginning June 18, 2024, Air Transat will also launch a weekly seasonal route from Toronto to Tirana using the Airbus A330-200. While this route is not entirely new, it marks the reintroduction of service between Quebec City and Marseille on May 23, with weekly flights scheduled through early October. The Marseille route was last served in 2013 using the A310-300.
Additionally, Air Transat has maintained its long-standing service from Toronto to Lamezia Terme since 2009. This route serves a significant segment of the Italian Canadian diaspora, with over 450,000 individuals living in Greater Toronto, many of whom have roots in Southern Italy. Air Transat’s ability to achieve high seat load factors on this route has contributed to its sustained popularity.
Market Insights and Booking Trends
The demand for flights to Tirana, in particular, is noteworthy. According to recent booking data, over 240,000 passengers traveled between North America and Tirana in the past year, with the largest markets originating from New York JFK, Newark, and Toronto Pearson. While this segment is primarily composed of Albanian Americans and Canadians visiting friends and family, it is characterized by lower yield potential, which explains the absence of nonstop flights until now.
Despite the challenges, Air Transat has identified an opportunity for seasonal operations to Albania, a destination that is gaining traction for inbound tourism. The Toronto to Tirana route will offer 17 round-trip services throughout the summer, providing a total of 11,288 round-trip seats. The A330-200 aircraft will remain in Albania for approximately 26 hours before returning with the same crew.
In comparison, other markets within Central and Eastern Europe, such as Belgrade and Budapest, have shown higher demand, with booking data suggesting significant passenger numbers. Air Serbia plans to resume flights to Toronto in May 2026, and Air Canada will restart its Budapest service in June, further indicating a competitive landscape.
Air Transat’s average European frequency next July is projected to be five times weekly. Following the new routes, two markets will feature two weekly departures: Montreal to Keflavik and Montreal to Valencia. The Keflavik route, commencing on June 16, 2024, will use the Airbus A321neo and marks the airline’s debut in Iceland. Meanwhile, flights to Valencia, which started in 2025, will see increased frequency in 2026 based on positive performance.
As Air Transat prepares for a busy summer, these new routes highlight the airline’s strategic focus on expanding its European network and catering to evolving travel demands.
