TORONTO — Low-cost carrier Primera Air is expanding its network out of Canada with new service to one of Europe’s biggest capital cities starting June 2019.
The LCC says it will begin direct long-haul flights to Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) out of Toronto as well as New York and Boston next summer.
Flights will be operated on the carrier’s new Boeing MAX 9 fleet. Introductory fares start at €149 one-way.
“Berlin has been one of the key bases in our strategy, as it is one of the major European cities and we can bring a lot of tourists from North America, who otherwise could not afford to travel there,” says Primera’s Chief Commercial Officer, Anastasija Visnakova.
Primera already operates direct flights from London and Paris to Toronto and Montreal as well as New York, Boston, Washington D.C.
The LCC added Montreal as a gateway earlier this summer with flights to Paris. The Montreal-Paris flights are set to begin Nov. 1, 2018 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Last month Primera announced its London Stansted schedule with Toronto flights starting Oct. 31. The flights operate year-round on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Paris flights ex Toronto operate year-round as well, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The new Berlin flights will operate daily starting June 10, 2019.
Primera is one of a growing number of low-cost carriers to set their sights on developing low-fare transatlantic routes out of Canadian gateways.
The list now includes Norwegian Air (with new service to Guadeloupe and Martinique out of Montreal starting in fall 2018, and Dublin flights ex Hamilton, ON starting in March 2019) and WOW air. Just about every legacy airline has launched its own low-cost carrier too, from Air Canada Rouge to BA’s Level and Air France’s Joon.
