MONTREAL — Air Transat is adding a new destination, Budapest, Hungary, to its transatlantic program for 2015, as well as increasing seats and frequencies on many of its European routes, including Paris, London, Barcelona, Athens, Lisbon, Marseille, Nantes, Rome and Venice.

With more than 50 different city-pairs between Canada and Europe, Air Transat said it maintains its position as the holiday travel leader, and is the only air carrier flying direct from Canada to Eastern Europe.

“This expansion comes in response to the success of our Prague connection, inaugurated this past June, and reflects our intent to be at the forefront of innovation,” said Jean-François Lemay, General Manager, Air Transat. “Yet again, Air Transat is differentiating its travel experience, with the addition of weekly direct flights to Budapest departing from Montreal and Toronto. We are extremely proud to be expanding, year after year, the range of destinations we offer Canadian travellers.”

Air Transat retains its leadership position as the Canadian air carrier with the most direct flights to France. Besides service to secondary cities, the carrier is now offering twice-daily flights to Paris from Montreal and six a week from Toronto. Air Transat also remains the only airline offering direct flights to Paris from Quebec City, Calgary and Vancouver.

In addition, Air Transat announced a new connection between St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, and London, England, with two weekly flights in high season, in response to strong demand from travellers in the region. Elsewhere in Canada, the carrier will increase flight frequencies on its London routes as well, offering 10 weekly departures from Toronto, two each from Montreal and Halifax, six from Vancouver and three from Calgary.

Flights will also be added to Athens and Barcelona from Montreal and Toronto, and to Lisbon from Montreal.

In 2015, Air Transat will no longer offer flights to Germany from Western Canada, and will no longer fly to Turkey. Although the airline is eliminating service between Montreal and Istanbul, Transat will continue to market that destination, with land tours sold under the Transat Holidays and Transat Discoveries brands.