The skies over Canada are about to get a little brighter with the announcement of five new transatlantic routes by Air Canada and Air Transat. These additions are a welcome development for Canadian flyers seeking European sun, particularly those who prefer secondary destinations on long, narrow routes. The routes in question are primarily leisure-focused, catering to those who want to escape the winter chill and enjoy some much-needed sunshine. The expansion also highlights the importance of the Canada-Europe market, with Canadian airlines leading the way in terms of flight frequency and seat availability. The routes are as follows:
Air Canada's Tenerife Expansion
Air Canada is set to expand its reach to Tenerife South Reina Sofía Airport (TFS) in the Canary Islands, Spain. The airline will operate the Airbus A321XLR from two of its major hubs in eastern Canada: Montréal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The Montréal-Tenerife route will offer weekly flights (Saturdays) from October 31 to April 24, 2027, while the Toronto-Tenerife route will run more frequently, with two flights a week (Thursdays and Sundays) from October 25 to April 29, 2027. Mark Galardo, the EVP, CCO, and President of Cargo at Air Canada, expressed enthusiasm for the new service, emphasizing the airline's commitment to offering a diverse range of unique destinations to its customers and Aeroplan members.
Air Transat's European Expansion
Air Transat is also set to launch new routes, with three new destinations in Europe. The airline will operate the Airbus A321LR from Montréal and Toronto to Gran Canaria, offering weekly flights from mid-December to early April. Departures from Montréal will be on Saturdays, while those from Toronto will be on Sundays. Air Transat's expansion also includes a new route from Montréal to Istanbul Airport (IST) in Turkey, operated by its A330s, which will commence on October 29 and run twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Canada-Europe Market
The Canada-Europe market is a significant long-haul market for Canadian aviation, with Canadian airlines leading the way in terms of flight frequency and seat availability. In August 2026 alone, data from Cirium shows that 4,651 Europe-bound departures were scheduled from Canadian airports. Air Canada and Air Transat are the largest operators in this market, with 1,647 and 860 flights, respectively. Fellow Canadian airline WestJet is third on the list, with 498 flights. Among European airlines, Air France is the top operator, with 266 departures offering a total of 95,457 seats. Three more European flag carriers have three-figure flight totals: British Airways with 186, Lufthansa with 181, and KLM with 177. At the other end of the spectrum, Air Serbia has the lowest presence, with just nine departures (two a week) from Toronto to Belgrade.
Personal Commentary
The expansion of transatlantic routes by Air Canada and Air Transat is a positive development for Canadian flyers, offering more options for those seeking European sun. The leisure-focused nature of these routes is particularly appealing to those who want to escape the winter chill and enjoy some much-needed sunshine. The Canada-Europe market is a significant long-haul market for Canadian aviation, with Canadian airlines leading the way in terms of flight frequency and seat availability. The competition among European airlines is also a positive development, with Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, and KLM offering a wide range of options for travelers. However, the presence of Air Serbia, with just nine departures (two a week) from Toronto to Belgrade, highlights the need for more competition in this market to ensure that travelers have a variety of options and competitive pricing.
