Air Transat Introduce direct Budapest and London Routes for Summer 2015

The Toronto–Montréal­–Budapest route will mark the return of North American long-haul service to the Hungarian capital. The new weekly transatlantic route is the first from the Americas since 2011, when American Airlines and Delta Air Lines ceased their service to Hungary. The route will also mark the end of a six year hiatus since Toronto has been directly served.

Hungary’s now defunct flagship carrier Malév also operated direct flights from Budapest to Canada, but the airline ceased service in 2012.

Set to begin on June 17, 2015, the seasonal route will serve Toronto Pearson International Airport with an intermediate stop at Montréal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport. The route will be operated by the Airline’s A330s and will highlight the second wide-body service secured by Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, after a new daily Dubai service from Emirates, which will commence service beginning October 27, 2014.

"This expansion comes in response to the success of our Prague connection, inaugurated this past June, and reflects our intent to be at the forefront of innovation," said Jean-François Lemay, General Manager, Air Transat. "Yet again, Air Transat is differentiating its travel experience, with the addition of weekly direct flights to Budapest departing from Montreal and Toronto.”

Air Transat offers 345 seats in its wide-body aircraft, 12 of which are Club Class and the remaining 333 seats are economy.

In addition, Air Transat announced a new connection between St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and London Gatwick. The route will operate twice weekly from June 17, 2015 to September 3, 2015 using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The full routing will be Halifax – St. John’s – London Gatwick, which will replace one weekly Halifax service.

Elsewhere, the Canadian carrier will increase flight frequencies on its London routes, offering ten weekly departures from Toronto, two weekly from both Montreal and Halifax, six weekly from Vancouver and three weekly from Calgary

“We are extremely proud to be expanding, year after year, the range of destinations we offer Canadian travellers,” said Mr Lemay.

The airline has also announced an increase on seats to many of its European destinations including Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Rome and Venice.

Flights will also be added to Athens and Barcelona from Montreal and Toronto and to Lisbon from Montreal.

However, in 2015 Air Transat will no longer offer flights to Germany from Western Canada, and will no longer fly to Turkey. Although the airline is eliminating service between Montreal and Istanbul, Transat will continue to market that destination, with land tours sold under the Transat Holidays and Transat Discoveries brands.