Air Transat’s New Europe links from Québec City and Ottawa, plus year-round sun from Montréal & Toronto
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Air Transat has mapped out an ambitious Summer 2026, adding two headline-grabbing transatlantic routes and converting several “south” services to year-round operations. The moves deepen the carrier’s footprint in Europe while tightening leisure connectivity across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Two new nonstop links to Europe
Québec City ↔ Marseille (weekly, May 21–Oct 8, 2026).
Transat will become the only airline linking YQB directly with Provence. For Québec City, which already supports a successful Paris flight, Marseille opens a second French gateway—convenient for the Côte d’Azur, the Calanques, the Luberon and the Camargue—without a domestic connection inside Europe. Expect Transat’s single-aisle long-range playbook here (the airline has leaned heavily on the A321LR/neo for secondary European markets), with a schedule that suits week-long holidays on either side of the Atlantic.
Ottawa ↔ London Gatwick (3x weekly from May 15, 2026).
It’s Transat’s first transatlantic route from the Canadian capital and a meaningful win for YOW, which has been rebuilding long-haul options. Gatwick is a cost-effective London gateway with quick rail into central London; it also connects neatly to UK holiday regions via domestic trains. The cadence—Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays—caters to leisure demand and shoulder-season city breaks.
A feeder link that widens the map
Ottawa ↔ Montréal (May 5–Oct 23, 2026).
A short, seasonal hop lets Ottawa travelers tap Transat’s wider long-haul network from YUL with through-ticketing and bags checked to destination. The shuttle also layers on top of growing Ottawa connectivity from Porter Airlines, whose expanding E195-E2 network underpins YOW’s emergence as a mini-hub. Together, Porter’s domestic feed and Transat’s long-haul leisure focus make more one-stop itineraries viable from the National Capital Region.
South routes go year-round
Beginning Summer 2026, Transat will keep several warm-weather routes operating past winter peak out of Montréal and Toronto. One notable change:
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Montréal ↔ Cartagena extended to Medellín will now run all year, mirroring the new Toronto ↔ Cartagena ↔ Medellín service (launching Nov 2) that also continues year-round. It’s a neat two-city combo: beach time on Colombia’s Caribbean coast paired with Medellín’s cultural and culinary scene at spring-like altitude.
(Transat says other Montreal/Québec City/Toronto “south” routes are also moving to year-round operation; those specifics roll out as the Summer 2026 program is published.)
Why this matters
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Québec City’s momentum continues. After proving Paris can work from YQB, Transat is testing a second French point with strong VFR and holiday appeal. A weekly frequency limits risk while giving the market a true nonstop alternative to connecting over Montreal or Europe.
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Ottawa gets a true transatlantic anchor. Three weekly Gatwick flights, plus a same-season YOW–YUL connector, markedly improve outbound options for the region—and give inbound UK/Europe travelers a simpler path to the capital.
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Leisure is less seasonal. Year-round Colombia points to robust demand beyond peak winter and better aircraft utilization for Transat’s narrowbody fleet.
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Partnerships amplify reach. Porter’s growing Ottawa operation dovetails with Transat’s plan, seeding more feed to long-haul departures without Transat having to build its own domestic web.
Practical details & tips
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Sales are open now. If you’re eyeing Provence in late spring or high summer, book early—weekly flights concentrate demand and popular July/August weeks price up quickly.
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Gatwick 101. LGW’s rail links (Thameslink/Southern/Gatwick Express) get you to London Bridge, Victoria or St Pancras in 30–45 minutes—often faster, cheaper and less congested than Heathrow transfers.
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Colombia combos. The Cartagena–Medellín pattern is tailor-made for open-jaw trips (fly into one, back from the other). Domestic flight and coach options are frequent if you want to add Bogotá, Santa Marta or the Coffee Triangle.
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Aircraft & onboard. Transat has leaned on the A321LR/neo for thinner transatlantic markets and on the same family (plus A330s) for “south” flying. Exact tail assignment will publish with final timetables, but expect modern cabins with seatback IFE on most long-haul leisure sectors.
Bottom Line
With Québec City–Marseille and Ottawa–London Gatwick added to the map, a new Ottawa–Montréal connector, and multiple “south” routes going year-round, Air Transat’s Summer 2026 is built for choice: more nonstops where they matter and fewer seasonal gaps when you want sun. If you’re planning Provence, London, Cartagena or Medellín next year, these new options could cut hours off your journey—and, in many cases, a connection too.
