Air Canada puts the positive spin on its takeover of Transat.

Air Canada has put the positive spin on its deal to take over Transat following recent negative publicity in Canada.  The transaction is advantageous and in the best interests not only of the two companies, but also of their employees, the airline says.  Quebec consumers and the Quebec economy. As a reminder, Air Canada raised its purchase price from $13 to $18 per share, for a total purchase price of approximately $720 million. The transaction is in the public interest, as evidenced by Air Canada's statements regarding employment, the head office and brands, its presence and significant growth in Quebec and Montreal in recent years, and the great deal of support Quebec organizations have voiced in favour of the transaction. In addition, Letko Brosseau, Transat's largest shareholder at approximately 19.3% of outstanding shares, entered into a lock-up and support agreement, affirming its support for the acquisition by Air Canada.

Air Transat is synonymous with Sun to travellers in Western Canada

The airline is strengthening its position as a leader in holiday travel this winter with new flights to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Florida

Air Transat is pleased to present travellers in Western Canada with its enriched winter 2019-2020 program for Sun destinations in Central America, Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean and Europe. Named the 2019 World's Best Leisure Airline by Skytrax, Air Transat will be introducing beachgoers from the Vancouver area to new destinations in Florida, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Travellers will have a choice of 20 South and Europe destinations from Vancouver. The most scenic beaches in the South will be accessible to passengers flying out of Calgary, Victoria, Edmonton and Winnipeg as well.

Air Transat announces the new features of its winter 2019-2020 flight programme

Earlier this month Air Transat announced the new features of its flight program for winter 2019–2020, effective November 1, and is continuing to develop its service to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Florida and Louisiana, offering over 30 Sun destinations as well as several European regions. In addition, the carrier will add new Airbus A321neoLR aircraft to its operations this winter.

Air Transat to deploy A321neoLR on transatlantic flights to Europe

Photo Airbus

The Canadian holiday airline Air Transat will be deploying its brand new Airbus A321neo LR - Long Range aircraft on transatlantic routes to the United Kingdom from this summer, the airline has confirmed.

The airline says it will fly the single-aisle aircraft on the daily service between Toronto and London Gatwick from summer next year.  Whilst it will put the new generation aircraft on the Toronto to Glasgow route which operates twice a week from this October.

The Airbus A321neoLR in Air Transat colours will be configured with 187 economy seats in a three and three layout and then another 12 seats in a two by two arrangement in what the airline terms as Club Class.  The seats have seatback video screens and USB charge points and have a recline, the aircraft also enjoys LED mood lighting. 

More information on Air Transat's Airbus A321neoLR is available here.

Air Transat launches flights between Montreal and New Orleans

Photo AirTransat

Top Canadian leisure airline, Air Transat, has announced that it will start a non-stop direct flight between Montreal and New Orleans, Louisiana, starting in November 2019.

The airline will offer two direct flights a week from Montreal, allowing passengers to have a short or long stay in the popular city where some of the best music lives.  "With the steady demand for New Orleans, Air Transat is pleased to be the only airline to offer non-stop service from Montreal to this unique vacation destination, and to be enhancing its offering for next winter with this distinctive option," says Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer, Transat. "Adding this new route strengthens Air Transat's status as a Canadian leader in leisure travel while also providing greater flexibility to business travellers visiting Louisiana, who will have the option of extending their stay."

Some suggestions of top places to stay in New Orleans can be found below. 

An Airbus A321LR for Canadian holiday airline Air Transat

Airbus delivers first A321LR to Canada’s Air Transat

Photo Airbus

The Canadian holiday and leisure carrier Air Transat has just taken delivery of its first Airbus A321LR aircraft, the first of 15 from the manufacturer via lease agreements with AerCap.

The A321LR, comes with the new Airbus Cabin Flex configuration which allows for installation of additional fuel tanks, will have a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles. The Montreal based airline says it will deploy the A321LR for long-haul long-distance flights out of Canada, principally on more extended, thinner routes to European, Caribbean, Central and South American destinations.

Flight with Santa Claus takes off

It has become something of a tradition just before the holiday season for Canadian holiday carrier Air Transat and the Children's Wish Foundation to operate a  Flight with Santa Claus. 

Hundreds of children were part of the festivities with the hope of finding Santa somewhere in the sky between Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver earlier this week. Upon their arrival, elves and animated characters welcomed children and their families at the Air Transat check-in counters at Montreal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson and Vancouver airports. At the boarding gate, a number of activities awaited everyone before taking place in an Air Transat airplane. Shortly after take-off, mission accomplished: Santa himself appeared in the cabin, delighting everyone.

AirTransat revamp Kids Club and show off new kids club detailed paint scheme.

The Canadian leisure airline, Air Transat, has released details of its new Kids Club livery and a new kids' meal to make travelling more fun for passengers, both big and small.  The airline's kids club has been going for 12 years, giving kids aged between 2 and 11 free membership and fun kits filled with travel goodies, priority airport services, on-board surprises and more.

AirTransat seeks to become the perfect airline

for family vacations and unveils new livery

"At Air Transat, we always have the needs of families at heart," says Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer at Transat. "We have been accompanying them on their dreams and holidays for more than 30 years. We understand their expectations, care about their well-being and do everything possible to make their lives easier, from the moment they arrive at the airport to the time they reach their final destinations. As a company that specializes in holiday travel, our concern for families is evident in many ways, mainly in the little extras from a crew who fully understands their needs and wants to ensure that their vacations start as soon as they board."

Air Transat unveils its summer 2019 flight programme

The Canadian holiday and leisure airline, Air Transat, has confirmed it will be adding Split in Croatia, to its ever-increasing list of destinations for its direct flights for many of its main transatlantic markets, namely, Italy, Greece, Croatia, France and Portugal. The company is making it easy for Canadians to discover Europe next summer, with more and more flights to top vacation spots.

With 27 destinations in Europe and the Middle East accessible from six airports in Canada via connecting flights, Air Transat makes planning a dream vacation a breeze for Canadians. Moreover, as of summer 2019, passengers heading to destinations such as Nice, Porto and Basel will fly in one of two new Airbus A321neo LR aeroplanes being added to its fleet.

Air Transat adds the A321neo LR to its fleet and Split, Croatia to its destinations 

"Our fleet's transition period that started last winter is continuing. Summer 2019 will mark the arrival of two new Airbus A321neo LR aeroplanes, benefitting our flexibility and efficiency," says Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer at Transat. "We're adding Split in response to Croatia's soaring popularity as a tourist destination, while maintaining our position as a leader in many of our key markets, including the Mediterranean region," she explains.

Air Transat to start a service to Split......

The Canadian holiday airline, Air Transat has confirmed it will be starting a new route to Split, Croatia, to its transatlantic flying programme.

The airline, recently named the 2018 World's Best Leisure Airline will be starting the service during the summer of 2019, flying direct on a weekly basis.  "Tourism has seen incredible growth in the Balkan Peninsula, which many now rank among the top European destinations," explains Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer at Transat. "We've seen great interest in Croatia since we started flying there in 2016. That's why Air Transat is proud to be meeting this demand even better by upping its offer to three direct flights from Toronto, including two to Zagreb," she adds. "And thanks to our connecting flights from Montreal and Vancouver, more travellers can now discover Croatia's second-largest city."

Gari Cappelli, Minister of Tourism of Croatia said, "Split will amaze Canadian travellers eager for something new, not only does it boast a rich heritage, with a UNESCO‑declared historic centre that dates back to the Roman Empire, but its location makes it the perfect gateway to the islands of the Adriatic Sea and Eastern Europe."

(Photo Air Transat)

Air Transat signs partnership with SNCF to offer TGV AIR, an air-rail combo!

 Air Transat taking the plane to the train!

In an interesting move, Air Transat is all set to offer passengers with a new product that combines air and rail travel, in partnership with SNCF, France's national rail service. 

The airline says customers will be able to purchase a single ticket comprising a flight to Paris plus TGV AIR service enabling them to complete their journey on the TGV high-speed rail network within France or to Brussels, Belgium.

Air Transat and SNCF promise a simple service delivering several benefits: a single booking, a single fare and a single ticket. It will be available as of January 2019, and travellers will be able to book from Canada starting in December.

"We are the leading air carrier connecting Canada and France in summer, with our direct flights to eight French cities," says Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer, Transat. "With TGV AIR, we want to make life easier for travellers and broaden their horizons year-round, making it easy for families, friends and holidayers to get where they want to go in France or Belgium, experiencing new destinations and reaching them faster. We are pleased to be the first airline in mainland North America to offer this service in partnership with SNCF. TGV AIR is the perfect complement to our range of direct flights to France and Belgium," she adds.

Third quater results for Transat A T

The Canadian Transat A.T. Inc. group, one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world has released its results for the third quarter which ended on 31st July 2018.

"Like most of our competitors, we're affected by rising fuel prices, which impacted our summer results as we had forecasted in mid-June. Prices always take a certain time to adjust. We are still confident that we will meet our long-term targets, while Air Transat was just named the world's best leisure airline by Skytrax," stated Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat.

"During the quarter, we opened our hotel division's headquarters in Miami and identified attractive opportunities, some of which should materialize soon.".

More airlines for Aeroplan

Aimia Inc. the company behind  Aeroplan Miles, has announced today that two new airlines have entered into new preferred partnership arrangements with Aeroplan with effect from July 2020 when Air Canada leaves the programme.

The two new additions, following fresh on the heels of the Billy Bishop based Porter are Air Transat, Canada's number one holiday airline and the low-cost-carrier that operates almost 200 weekly domestic flights, Flair. 

Aeroplan will become Flair's loyalty programme, therefore Aeroplan Members will be able to both earn Aeroplan Miles when booking flights on Flair routes and redeem for flights at fixed-rate fares.  "At Flair we provide affordable flight options for Canadians. Our arrangement with Aeroplan helps further that commitment," said Jim Scott, CEO Flair Airlines. "Our passengers will now be rewarded for their loyalty with the ability to earn and redeem Aeroplan Miles for flights. This partnership strengthens our value proposition, giving more people the ability to fly to their preferred destination."

Cat's and dogs allowed in the cabin of Air Transat flights

The Canadian carrier, recently named as the World Best Leisure Airline by Skytrax, has confirmed that it will allow cats and dogs of up to 10 kg (22 pounds) fly in the cabin on the vast majority of its flights.  The weight allowance listed above is including the weight of a suitable cage or carier and the caged animal must be placed under the seat in front of the passenger.

Travellers interested in this new service can book it directly with the airline, and fees start at $50 / £29.22 for domestic, south and USA flights. It rises to $90 / £52.60 for the carriers Europe flights and all the details are on the Air Transat’s website.

It's important to note however, to prevent the spread of rabies to the UK, animals are only allowed to be carried in the hold on flights to the UK and Ireland, which will cost more. Plus of course, animals coming in will need to have a period of quarantine prior to being admitted, which can be quite costly.  It is also not allowed on flights to and from Jamaica or Saint Lucia. It is also not available on connecting flights.

Top accolade for Air Transat

One of Canada's leading airlines, Air Transat, is celebrating this week after being named as the World's Best Leisure Airline during the Skytrax World Airline Awards in London. 

Jean-François Lemay, President-General Manager of Air Transat, was on hand in London to accept the award at the official ceremony. "Being singled out as the World's Best Leisure Airline is an honour we're extremely proud of, since it was awarded by our passengers," says Jean-François Lemay. "This honour extends to all of our employees, whose commitment, quality service and hard work ensure our passengers a pleasant, memorable experience, so their vacation truly begins the moment they set foot on board. Air Transat takes great pride in having been ranked among the best leisure airlines for seven years running, and to have topped the list for the second time in its history. Once again, I am deeply grateful to our passengers for their trust."

Every year, some 20 million travellers from around the world pick the winners by taking part in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey, a global benchmark of airline excellence. The awards began in 1999 when Skytrax launched its first global airline passenger satisfaction survey. These days the survey covers 320 airlines in 105 countries. The survey runs for 10-months where airlines are marked in over 50 areas, including check-in, boarding, quality of service, seat comfort and many others.  

Air Transat to lease seven new Airbus A321neos

Canada's number one holiday airline, Air Transat, has agreed to lease seven new Airbus aircraft made up of two A321neos and five A321neo LRs from AerCap.

AirTransat will gradulally receive these next-generation, single-aisle jets, between 2020 and 2022 and will be used to replace the older widebody A330s the carrier has as their leases expire. 

"We are continuing our fleet transformation in order to achieve greater efficiency and versatility," said Jean-François Lemay, President of Air Transat. "With their smaller size, the A321neos will enable us to implement our air strategy, which involves increasing our flight frequencies, expanding our network and strengthening our position in several markets. The goal: continue to provide our customers with comfortable service at the best possible price."

Air Transat unveils its 2018-2019 winter line-up

Air Transat has just unveiled its flight program for winter 2018–2019, which includes 34 Sun destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America as well as Florida, along with an even more diversified selection of European cities, which are increasingly appreciated by Canadians during the winter season. Air Transat, the leading leisure carrier in Canada, is also pleased to announce the return of flights from Toronto and Montreal to Saint-Martin/St-Maarten and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Transat Celebrates 30th Anniversary of its Inaugural Toronto-London Flight

With 250 partners and guests in attendance at its hangar near Toronto–Pearson airport, Transat A.T. Inc., Canada's first integrated international tourism company, celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first flight between Toronto and London, England.

"I am exceedingly proud when I look back at how far we've come since that first flight out of Toronto, and how much the company has grown in Ontario and the rest of Canada," said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer, Transat. "Over the years, our organization has adjusted to a changing and ever more competitive business environment. It has evolved and rapidly responded to emerging consumer needs when it comes to products, destinations, services, and of course price."

Europe is more accessible than ever with Air Transat - New domestic flights will offer travellers greater flexibility

Air Transat, one Canada's leading low-cost airlines, has announced that it will be adding new domestic flights this summer, making Europe that much more accessible to travellers from Calgary, Vancouver and Quebec City. In fact, they will now have access to more than 10 new European destinations, thanks to Air Transat's connecting flights via Montreal and Toronto.
"For more than 30 years, Air Transat has been the preferred holiday travel airline for Canadians flying to Europe," says Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer at Transat. "Our domestic flights are very popular with travellers, as they offer more choices and the flexibility to easily plan their dream vacations to Europe. This allows us to reinforce our position as leader in the transatlantic market, because a greater number of travellers are choosing the unique experience of flying with Air Transat to Europe."

Transat A.T. Inc. - Results for fourth quarter and fiscal 2017

Transat A.T. Inc., one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world and Canada's holiday travel leader, posted revenues of $698.6 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2017, compared with $612.1 million for the same period in 2016, an increase of $86.4 million, or 14.1%. The Corporation recorded adjusted operating income1 of $78.5 million, compared with $46.5 million in 2016. Net income attributable to shareholders amounted to $148.1 million ($4.00 per share, basic and $3.97 per share, diluted) for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with $34.9 million ($0.95 per share, basic and diluted) in 2016. Before non-operating items, Transat reported adjusted net income3 of $46.4 million ($1.24 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with $24.2 million ($0.66 per share) in 2016.

"The fourth quarter, like the summer as a whole, was excellent. Financially, our summer results were among the best in our history and significantly improved our results for the year compared with last year. From a strategic standpoint, we made great strides towards establishing our hotel division and in several other major areas, including fleet composition, and corporate leadership succession," said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat.