Air Transat announces new longest nonstop flight with launch of Rio de Janeiro routes

According to Chief Revenue Officer Sebastian Ponce: "This enriched winter schedule marks an important milestone in the evolution of our network. By targeting markets we have never served before, we are pursuing a clear diversification strategy toward destinations that Canadians are eager to explore, supported by growing connectivity through our expanding network of partners."

The new services are part of Air Transat’s broader winter expansion plan that includes a total of 14 new routes. These also feature connections such as Toronto to Georgetown and Montreal to Valencia. The airline reports this winter schedule reflects a year-on-year capacity increase of six percent.

While the Rio de Janeiro flights top the list for distance among Air Transat’s offerings, they do not represent the longest by flight time. The westbound Istanbul-Toronto service currently takes about 11 hours and 20 minutes—longer than either leg to Brazil due in part to wind patterns affecting flight duration.

Air Transat was founded in 1986 and operates as a full-service carrier based in Canada with its main hub at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport. Annick Guérard serves as CEO.