Air Transat is preparing for what is expected to be busy summer with the release of its latest flight schedule, including a focus on Europe, and the announcement of a code-sharing agreement with Porter Airlines.

The first phase of the codeshare will focus on connecting Porter’s bases at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) and Halifax-Stanfield (YHZ) to Air Transat’s hub at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL), providing customers of both carriers with a greater selection of connecting flights in Canada, the US, and internationally.

“We are very excited to team up with Porter in an important partnership that will contribute to the strengthening of our network and reinforce our leadership in our main markets,” said Transat President and CEO Annick Guérard. “By providing better connectivity, it will not only enhance our destination offering for our Canadian and international customers, but also save them time and make their lives easier.”

Porter president and CEO added that the agreement “nicely complements” its own growth plans by providing its passengers seamless access to international markets.

Porter will carry its code on Air Transat-operated flights to and from Montreal on 11 European destinations (Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Madrid, Paris, Porto, Toulouse and Venice), 13 South destinations (Cancun, Cayo Coco, Holguin, La Romana, Montego Bay, Port-au-Prince, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Roatan, Samana, Santa Clara and Varadero), five destinations in the US (Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando and San Francisco) and two domestic destinations (Calgary and Vancouver). Air Transat will put its code on Porter’s flights to and from Toronto (Billy Bishop) and Halifax, connecting to all the above destinations in Montreal.

The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be implemented in the summer of 2022.

Summer sked

Meanwhile, Air Transat reports it is relaunching most of its routes for summer travel including destinations in Europe and the United States. Domestic and Sun flights will also be offered, but Transat says it is particularly focussed on consolidating its position in the transatlantic market.

To that end, the airline says it will gradually restart flights to a total of 25 European destinations, including the six it currently serves, starting in April. In total, the carrier will operate more than 250 direct flights weekly on 69 direct routes at the height of the season.

Joseph Adamo, Transat’s chief sales and marketing officer, says the outlook for the summer season is favourable as the company looks to respond to significant pent-up demand. He adds that the surge in demand has also allowed the company to increase capacity on certain key routes between now and the end of the winter season.

“The numbers tell us clearly that with the gradual lifting of travel restrictions worldwide, people are more ready than ever to plan their next trip…” he says.

Europe

• From Montreal and starting in April, Air Transat will gradually resume its direct flights to 16 European destinations including, for the first time, Amsterdam. Customers will once again be able to travel non-stop to Athens, Basel-Mulhouse, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Madrid, Porto, Rome, and Venice, as well as to the French provinces, including Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse. In addition, the airline currently offers flights to Malaga and Lisbon, as well as a daily service to Paris, which will increase to up to 14 flights per week during the summer.

• From Quebec City, TS will be the only airline to offer non-stop service to two European capitals: first, to Paris starting in early April and, for the very first time and exclusively, to London in May.

• From Toronto, Transat will serve 15 European cities: Flights to Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Dublin, Lamezia, Paris, Rome, Venice, and Zagreb will once again be offered, in addition to the flights currently operated to Glasgow, Lisbon, London, Manchester and Porto. Furthermore, due to sustained demand for southern Portugal, Air Transat will now fly to Faro year-round.

US

Air Transat will land in California for the first time in its history, serving both San Francisco and Los Angeles from Montreal. And given the “unfaltering popularity” of Florida, the airline will be operating several of its flights year-round; namely, flights from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale, and from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando will now be offered throughout the year.

Canada

Interest in domestic flights is not fading, says Transat, which will offer an enhanced flight program between Montreal and Toronto (year-round), Quebec City (April 10), Calgary (May 2) and Vancouver (May 1); as well as Toronto-Calgary and Toronto-Vancouver, both staring May 1.

Sun

Air Transat will offer a wide selection of its most popular destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean from Montreal, Quebec City, and Toronto. Year-round destinations include, from Montreal – Cancun, Cayo Coco, Holguin, Montego Bay, Port-au-Prince, Puerto Plata, Punta Cancun, Samana, Santa Clara, and Varadero; from Quebec City – Cancun and Punta Cana; and from Toronto – Cancun, Cayo Coco, Holguin, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Santa Clara, and Varadero.