Citing “skyrocketing demand” for the French provinces, Air Transat is expanding its flight operations to France, most notably on two direct routes departing from Montreal. Following recent news that it would service Lyon all year, the airline is also adding Marseille to its roster of year-round destinations. Additionally, it is extending its Montreal-Nantes service until Jan. 24, 2024.

Transat says the moves solidify its status as the leading carrier between Quebec and France and increase flexibility for Canadians travelling to the region of Provence and Western France.

Air Transat is the only airline to offer direct flights from Canada to the airports of Marseille and Nantes. A total of seven French cities will be served non-stop this year, including three on a year-round schedule: Paris, Lyon, and now Marseille.

“Annualizing key routes of our flight network is at the core of our strategy, which is facilitated by the agility of our Airbus A321LR fleet, says Michèle Barre, Air Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer. “In the fall of 2022, we extended our service to Marseille until the end of the year for the very first time. Given the success of this initiative, we are delighted to repeat the experience, this time to Nantes.”

Julien Boullay, Sales and Marketing Director at Aéroport Marseille-Provence, says “The annualization of the Montreal-Marseille route is the result of a dynamic market that is increasingly less seasonal, driven by a solid leisure passenger base keen on direct long-haul flights – of which Montreal has always been one of the leading destinations. And with 300 days of sunshine a year, there is no doubt that Provence will also be very popular with Canadian travellers in the wintertime.”

Xavier Lortat-Jacob, Chairman and CEO of Nantes Atlantique Airport – VINCI Airports, adds, “Montreal is the longest-running international destination for our airport. These 20 years of operation have enabled us to build significant economic and cultural exchanges between Western France and Canada. Travellers on both sides of the pond will now be able to meet up more often this year thanks to the trust and commitment of Air Transat. We are pleased to strengthen the connectivity of our territory and its overseas influence.”

The route will mainly be operated with new generation Airbus A321LR aircraft featuring spacious cabins, state-of-the-art in-seat entertainment systems and the lowest fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 and NOx) in their class.