MONTREAL — Air Transat is giving the travel trade a first look at its 2023-2024 winter flight program from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.

Flights for the 2023-2024 winter flight program start Nov. 1, 2023 for Ontario and Quebec departures. For winter sun flights out of the Maritimes, Air Transat has moved up its start date on certain routes, with some starting as early as Dec. 18.

At the peak of the season, Air Transat’s overall program will include 300+ direct flights per week departing from eight Canadian cities: Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and London, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton and Halifax.

Here are all the details so far …

ONTARIO

At peak season Air Transat will offer 110+ direct flights per week from Toronto, Ottawa, London and Hamilton to 20+ destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America and Europe.

 “We are proud to present an ambitious flight program that is even more attractive than our pre-pandemic offer,” said Michèle Barre, Air Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer. “The rise in our overall capacity for winter 2023-2024 also includes a major increase in the frequency of flights to South destinations, while enabling us to keep on strengthening our air network as we offer our Ontario customers even more flight options.”

Of note, Air Transat is strengthening its position as the primary Canadian airline serving the D.R. At the peak of the season, four additional direct flights will be offered each week between Toronto and Punta Cana, while one additional direct flight will be offered between Toronto and Puerto Plata, as well as Toronto and Samana. One additional direct flight will connect Ottawa and London with Punta Cana.

Air Transat is also enhancing its Cuba offer with two additional flights departing from Toronto to Cayo Coco and one additional flight to Holguín, Varadero and Santa Clara.

The company continues to develop its Mexican market, with four additional flights departing from Toronto to Cancún and two to Puerto Vallarta. One additional flight will depart from Ottawa and London to Cancún.

Number of weekly flights at the peak of the season

To Europe from Toronto, Air Transat will be serving six European destinations, for a total of 20 direct flights to Europe each week. The airline is boosting the frequency of its weekly service to Faro to two direct flights. In addition to Faro, Air Transat will offer (from Toronto) Porto, London, Manchester, Glasgow and Lisbon.

QUEBEC

At peak season Air Transat will offer 180+ direct flights per week from Montreal and Quebec City to 30+ destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, the U.S. and Europe.

“We are following through on our strategy to expand our service to various French regions with Lyon and Marseille routes now operating throughout the winter, while flights to Nantes will continue until mid-January. The rise in our overall capacity for winter 2023-2024 also includes a major increase in the frequency of flights to South destinations, while enabling us to keep on strengthening our air network to offer our Quebec customers even more flight options,” said Barre.

For the D.R., at the peak of the season, two additional direct flights will be offered each week between Montreal and Punta Cana, while one additional direct flight will be offered between Quebec City and Punta Cana and between Quebec City and Puerto Plata.

To Cuba, Air Transat will add two additional flights departing from Montreal to Cayo Coco, three to Holguín, two to Varadero and one to Santa Clara. To Mexico, there’s one additional flight departing from Montreal and one from Quebec City to Cancun, as well as two additional flights from Montreal to Puerto Vallarta.

Air Transat is also setting its sights on Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Saint Martin. Each week, one additional direct flight will be departing from Montreal to Cartagena, Liberia, Philipsburg, San José and San Salvador.

Number of weekly flights at the peak of the season

To Europe from Montreal, Air Transat will offer direct flights to seven European destinations. In accordance with the strategy announced earlier this year, the airline is reducing the seasonal nature of its operations in Europe by offering year-round service to Marseille and Lyon and by extending its flights to Nantes until mid-January. Departing from Quebec City, the number of flights to Paris will rise to two per week.

THE MARITIMES

Air Transat says it continues to develop its operations from the Maritimes, and will offer, at the peak of the season, 20+ direct flights per week from Halifax and Moncton to 10 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and the U.S.

“The rise in our overall capacity for winter 2023-2024 also includes a major increase in the frequency of flights to South destinations, while enabling us to keep on strengthening our air network as we offer our customers in the Maritimes even more flight options,” says Barre.

As noted above, for the very first time, Air Transat will be considerably expanding its winter operations in the Maritimes by moving up the start date for certain routes to meet growing demand, particularly during the holiday season. While in the past these destinations were only available beginning in February, this year, December 18 will be the start date for various flights departing from Halifax (Cancún, Cayo Coco, Fort Lauderdale, Holguín, Orlando, Punta Cana and Varadero) and from Moncton (Cancún and Punta Cana).

In addition, Air Transat will be increasing its number of flights from the Maritimes to Florida. One additional direct flight per week will be offered from Halifax to Orlando, while two direct flights to Orlando will depart from Moncton.