Air Transat to Launch Africa Expansion & Porter Alliance

Air Transat’s ambitions are sky-high. 

In yesterday’s annual shareholders call, Transat CEO and president Annick Guérard discussed the upcoming plans to expand the company’s network. 

The Eastern Canada airline is readying its new route connecting Montreal to Marrakesh, Morocco, which was first announced in October. Set to launch June 12, Air Transat will offer twice-weekly flights with a reduced weekly schedule during the winter months. 

The new expansion into Africa marks a milestone for the carrier, which is growing its long-haul network. Not only is this Air Transat’s first flight to Africa, but it’s also North America’s only direct flight to Marrakesh until United Airlines launches its new route in October. 

“We’re very pleased about the booking so far,” Guérard said (via Flight Global). “The response from consumers has been very positive since the day we announced this route.”

In addition to debuting the new service, Air Transat plans to launch the first phase of its Porter partnership in June as well.

In November, the airlines announced a joint venture (“Alliance”) that would extend their code-sharing agreement, expanding services between North, Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

“This historic agreement constitutes a significant step forward in executing Transat’s strategic plan and an important milestone in developing a more sustainable competitive network,” Guérard said in a statement. “Through this Alliance, we will accelerate the expansion of our transatlantic footprint by allowing us to leverage the domestic market served by Porter, while allowing for a more efficient use of our fleet.”

The Alliance will see Air Transat and Porter coordinate and optimize their routes and schedules to expand their network, with Porter connecting U.S. and Canadian passengers with Air Transat’s international flights. 

During the shareholders call, Guérard provided an update on the joint venture.

“The coordination is going to take effect during the summer, basically connecting the domestic and transborder network of Porter with our European network,” she said. “Making sure there is a flow of passengers between those three networks is the first phase.”

Guérard stated Air Transat and Porter could be “extremely competitive against Air Canada,” if the Alliance is successful.