Air Transat has announced plans to introduce two new transatlantic routes for the summer of 2026, connecting Ottawa to London Gatwick and Quebec City to Marseille. Both routes have been part of the airline’s network in previous years, with Ottawa-London last served in 2014 and Quebec City-Marseille in 2013. The carrier will use its Airbus A321LR aircraft, which features a two-class configuration with 199 seats.

The new flights are scheduled to begin in May 2026, aligning with the peak travel season. Service between Ottawa and London Gatwick will operate up to three times weekly starting May 15, while Quebec City to Marseille will be offered weekly from May 21. Air Transat’s move into these markets comes as Air Canada also operates four weekly flights between Ottawa and London Heathrow using the A330-300, potentially increasing competition on transatlantic services from Canada’s capital.

"Quebec City to Marseille is perhaps the definition of a francophone route," the press release states, highlighting the cultural ties between the two cities. The direct service marks the first nonstop connection between Quebec City and Marseille in over a decade. Data indicates that fewer than 5,000 passengers travel annually between these destinations, with most currently connecting via Montreal.