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Category: Air Transat

  • Air Transat takes us inside the world of aviation with its future experts

    AirTransatLogoMONTREAL, Sept. 12, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Transat, named the 2018 World’s Best Leisure Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, presents its future experts in an all‑new web series.

    The three webisodes posted today take viewers into Air Transat’s hangar, where we meet young children eager to share their knowledge of aviation with Raymond, Certified Aircraft Mechanic Technician at Air Transat. How fast can an airplane fly? How many passengers can travel on our airplane? How much does an airplane cost? The videos, created with agency Sid Lee, spotlight the future experts’ priceless reactions as a playful way to reveal some fun facts on the aviation industry.

    “This series builds on our most recent content initiatives. In our ‘vacation experts’ series, employees tell us what they love best about their favourite destinations, providing recommendations from seasoned travellers to inspire people everywhere as they plan their South and Europe holidays,” explains Geneviève LeBrun, Vice-President of Marketing at Transat. “With our ‘future experts,’ we talk aviation, a topic many people are curious about, while also reaffirming our role as family travel specialists. It’s worth noting that our future experts are all children of Transat employees, showing that passion for travel runs in the family.”

    Air Transat makes travel easier for families, with benefits including direct flights, convenient departure times, attentive staff, exclusive check-in counters and priority boarding for families with young children. What’s more, Air Transat’s Kids Club welcomes all mini-globetrotters aged 2 to 11 for free, offering a membership kit filled with travel goodies, standard seat selection for the departure and return flights, on‑board surprises, and more.

  • Flair Airlines reports record breaking summer, will lease Boeing 737-800s

    Flair Airlines Ltd--Flair Airlines Announces ExpansionWordAirlineNews – 29 August 2018

    Flair Airlines has announced that, after doubling its summer flying, the privately-held Flair Airlines surpassed load factor projections.

    “It’s been a delightfully busy summer for us” stated David Tait, Flair’s Executive Chairman. “Since mid June – when we more than doubled our capacity and expanded our network to 10 cities from Victoria to Halifax – our fleet of seven aircraft has carried more than a quarter million passengers and we’re currently enjoying load factors in excess of 90%.”

    Flair AirlinesHaving led the way as the nation’s first low fare airline, among other initiatives, Flair is working closely with Edmonton’s community at large to firmly establish its position asthe city’s‘hometown airline.’Already,some 75% of the airline’s flights go through Edmonton International Airport EIA.Throughout the coming months, Flair will continue to relocate staff to its new HQ building at EIA, as well as hire for new positions from the local labor pool.

    Tait added that, “As one of the founders of Virgin Atlantic Airways, I’ve played the David versus Goliath role before – and won! The tenacity of the Flair team, their spirit and determination to ensure that air travel becomes an affordable reality for all Canadians is really quite remarkable. I am truly proud to be of a part of this dynamic team, and, as Yogi Berra would have said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

    Flair recently announced low fare service (starting in December) out of Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto (YYZ), to Palm Springs,Phoenix/Mesa, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando and St. Pete/Clearwater.

    Tait added that, “Going forward, our robust fleet expansion plans should see up to 20 newer, more fuel efficient and longer-range aircraftby the end of 2020. The first additions will start arriving in early 2019 as our current aircraft are rapidly phased out.”

    Flair is intending to phase out its older Boeing 737-400s.

    In other news, Flair will lease Boeing 737-800s from Air Transat to support its expansion.

  • Aeroplan Announces Air Transat as a Preferred Partner

    Partnership will bring Aeroplan Members closer to their favourite holiday and sun destinations beginning July 2020

    “Adding Air Transat to Aeroplan come July 2020 further differentiates and significantly enhances our Aeroplan experience by bringing our members closer to their favourite sun and holiday destinations,” said Jeremy Rabe, Chief Executive Officer, Aimia. “This is an exciting step toward our goal of providing Aeroplan Members with great value when both earning and redeeming miles on travel bookings to popular holiday and transatlantic destinations.”

    “We are thrilled about this agreement in principle and look forward to Air Transat, recently recognized by Skytrax as the World`s Best Leisure Airline, partnering with Aeroplan for its members’ leisure travel needs to some 60 destinations in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East,” said Joseph Adamo, Chief Distribution Officer, Transat.

    Aeroplan continues to expand and enhance its member offering to provide Canadians with the best travel loyalty program experience come July 2020 including the flexibility to fly any airline, anywhere at any time. Preferred agreements, like the one announced today, coupled with bulk and block purchasing and stand-alone charters, unlock meaningful discounts supporting the delivery of great value to members on flight redemptions.

  • TSAS signs major deal with Air Transat

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    MONTRÉAL, Aug. 3, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ – Trans-Sol Aviation Service Inc. (TSAS) has entered into an agreement with Air Transat, as part of which TSAS will provide passenger services and cabin grooming in Air Transat’s aircrafts in Montréal as of this November. Both companies are already partners at the Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport and the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.

    “Over the years, TSAS has stood out through its excellent service and commitment,” said Jean-François Lemay, President and General Manager, Air Transat. “We therefore gladly add passenger services and cabin grooming for our aircrafts in Montréal to the services already provided by TSAS in this city.”

    “We are thrilled by the trust Air Transat has placed in us,” said Denis Jacob, President and CEO, TSAS. “This is an important milestone for TSAS, as we now provide all services in Montréal, thereby giving us a distinct edge with regard to our overall growth and prospects moving forward.”

  • Travelling in the cabin with your pet on the wings of Air Transat

    Montreal, July 19, 2018 — Air Transat, named World’s Best Leisure Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, is now offering its passengers in Economy Class the opportunity to travel with their pet in the aircraft’s cabin. This new service, which aims to provide passengers with greater peace of mind, enhances the existing pets and service dogs policy.

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    Thus, cats and dogs 10 kg (22 pounds) or less (including the weight of the cage) will be allowed on the vast majority of the carrier’s flights. The caged animal must be placed under the seat in front of the traveller.

    In case an allergic passenger is seated close to an animal, accommodating measures will be taken once on board.

    Travellers interested in this new service are invited to reserve their pet’s place through the Information and Seat Selection Center at 1-877-TRANSAT. It will also be possible to make the reservation once at the airport, but the number of animals traveling in the cabin is limited. The price per flight, per animal in cabin is $50 for domestic, South and U.S. flights and $ 90 for Europe flights.

    All the details of this new service are available on Air Transat’s website.

  • Air Transat named World’s Best Leisure Airline in 2018

    AirTransatLogoMONTREAL, July 17, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Transat, Canada’s leading holiday airline, is proud to have been named the World’s Best Leisure Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. Jean-François Lemay, President-General Manager of Air Transat, was on hand in London to accept the award at the official ceremony. 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.

    “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.”

    Air Transat experience
    Air Transat flies to more than 60 destinations in 26 countries. It offers numerous benefits for an exceptional inflight experience. First, there’s Club Class, with its exclusive cabin and priority service every step of the way, not to mention a number of inflight privileges, such as the Chef’s Menu by Daniel Vézina. Passengers in Economy Class can treat themselves with Option Plus. Benefits include an additional piece of checked baggage and seat selection, among others. Air Transat also has its youngest travellers at heart. The Kids Club provides children between 2 and 11 and their families with a range of free benefits, including priority check-in and boarding as well as on-board surprises.

    The cabin comfort, free hot meals on transatlantic flights, including in Economy Class, personal entertainment system accessible via individual touch screens on Air Transat’s mobile app as well as an attentive crew are just some of the reasons why flying Air Transat is so enjoyable.

    The World Airline Awards began in 1999 when Skytrax launched its first global airline passenger satisfaction survey. The survey collects travellers’ opinions on 320 airlines over a 10-month period and in 105 countries. Airlines are ranked according to 50 criteria, from check-in and boarding to staff service and seat comfort. This year’s survey polled more than 20 million passengers worldwide.

    To learn more about the World Airline Awards, visit www.worldairlineawards.com.

  • Updates to Air Transat’s Option Plus and Seat Selection

    Air Transat is introducing as of today revised rates for seat selection for certain seat types. Option Plus prices are also changing for certain routes and seat types.

    Option Plus inclusions

    With Option Plus, Economy Class passengers can treat themselves to the following perks:

    • One additional piece of checked baggage of 23 kg for flights to/from Europe, the South and the United States (or one additional piece of checked baggage of 30 kg for flights to/from Israel)
    • Standard seat selection
    • Check-in at an exclusive counter
    • Priority boarding
    • Priority queue at security checkpoints (at Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver airports)
    • Priority baggage handling
    • A Comfort Kit and a set of natural wood earbuds
    • An alcoholic beverage
    • A selection of meals from the Bistro menu on flights to/from the South and the United States; a selection of treats on flights to/from Europe and Israel
    • Here is the updated price grid for seat selection according to the destinations.
    Europe and Israel Full price (one way)
    Standard seat $30
    Two-by-two seat $45
    Seat with more legroom $90
    South and the United States Full price (one way)
    Standard seat $25
    Two-by-two seat $40
    Seat with more legroom $50
    Domestic Full price (one way)
    Standard seat $10
    Two-by-two seat $10
    Seat with more legroom $25

    Option Plus

    Here is the updated price grid for Option Plus according to the destinations.

    Europe and Israel Full price (one way)
    Standard seat $79.50
    Two-by-two seat $94.50
    Seat with more legroom $139.50
    South and the United States Full price (one way)
    Standard seat $54.50
    Two-by-two seat $69.50
    Seat with more legroom $79.50

    For details, visit the seat selection section or the Option Plus section on airtransat.com

  • Changes to Air Transat’s fleet – Carrier signs agreement to lease seven new Airbus A321neos

    livree2012_2MONTREAL, June 27, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Transat, wholly-owned business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., has signed an agreement with AerCap for the long-term lease of seven new Airbus aircraft: two A321neos and five A321neo LRs (long-range). These next-generation, single-aisle jets, which will be delivered gradually between 2020 and 2022, will notably replace wide-body A330s whose leases will expire during this period.

    “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.”

    With 199 seats in a two-class configuration, the A321neo will be used for feeder flights and service to the South (short- and medium-haul) while the long-range version (A321neo LR) will be deployed for Sun and transatlantic destinations (medium- and long-haul). These aircraft will be added to the 10 new A321neo LRs, on lease from AerCap, announced in July 2017, which will gradually be introduced to Air Transat’s fleet starting in spring 2019.

    While this type of aircraft has been selected to optimize the fleet, its fuel efficiency will also keep cost per seat as low as possible, while reducing its carbon footprint. Additionally, because of the cockpit commonality of the A330 and A320 (including the A321), Air Transat’s pilots will be able to fly both types of aircraft, which will result in greater operating flexibility and savings, including on training costs.

    Air Transat’s fleet currently consists of 33 permanent aircraft in a unique flexible-fleet model that allows it to deploy more wide-body aircraft in summer for the high transatlantic season, and narrow-body aircraft in winter for the high Sun destinations season. By 2024, it will have an all-Airbus fleet.

  • Air Transat prepping for A321LRs by rapidly expanding in Europe

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    Air Transat executives are describing the company’s rapid European summer expansion as part of a long-term strategy to remain competitive in transatlantic markets.

    The airline will dump 15% more seats into Europe this summer – and do so with widebody aircraft that executives concede are not ideal for the job.

    But starting next year, Transat will begin defending newly-acquired turf with an expanding fleet of efficient Airbus A321LRs.

    “Our first goal [is] to increase frequencies so that we are able to protect our market share,” Annick Guerard, chief operating officer of Air Transat parent Transat AT, says on 14 June. “We need to take our place in those markets that we see are highly profitable.”

    The 15% capacity gains will be carried on existing routes by A330s and A310s.

    “Do we have the exact right aircraft to operate these routes? The answer is no,” Guerard says during the company’s fiscal second quarter earnings call. “We preferred to have smaller models like the A321 long-range, which is coming up in our fleet.”

    The first of those aircraft – Transat has orders for 10 – will arrive in spring 2019. Transat will use A321LRs to replace A310s on transatlantic routes, it has said.

    Guerard says Air Transat seeks to gain more share on routes to Portugal, French destinations besides Paris, as well as the UK.

    “It needs to be done this year, as we see competition growing,” Guerard says. “If we don’t do it, others will.”

    She does not name competitors, but next year WestJet will start acquiring the first of ten Boeing 787-9s, an aircraft that the airline has said it will likely deploy to Europe.

    Transat’s European growth reflects broader industry expansion.

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