Air Transat Returns to the Skies
Canada’s third-largest carrier resumes operations after six-month suspension and a turbulent 2020
Canada’s third-largest airline, Air Transat, is once again flying after a six-month suspension of operations. The carrier suspended flights in February, after the government of Canada imposed strict new arrivals rules.
The airline had announced it would resume operations at the end of April, but stayed grounded until July 30, when the airline restarted flights from Montreal to Punta Cana and Vancouver.
Air Transat, which had been a Skytrax pick for World’s Best Leisure Airline in 2019, has been through a turbulent 18 months thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to grounding its flights in February, the airline was moving ahead with a proposed merger with Air Canada. However that deal collapsed in April, scuttled by anti-competitive concerns from the European Commission.
Air Transat summer schedule offers 24 routes to 16 destinations, including domestic services between Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Vancouver. The airline is set to debut direct service between Quebec City and Vancouver.
International services from Toronto include flights to London and Porto, as well as Holguin and Varadero (Cuba), Punta Cana, Cancun, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Air Transat’s services from Montreal offers routes to Paris and Lisbon, as well as Holguin, Varadero, Punta Cana, Cancun, Port-au-Prince, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Canada’s announcement that it will ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers from the US has prompted carriers to start rebuilding their international services with the country.
Last month rival carrier Air Canada announced a summer schedule that includes 55 routes to 34 destinations in the US, and Delta has more than doubled its Canadian services starting in September.
