Air Transat Jets to Rio de Janeiro from Toronto & Montreal

Air Transat operated its first flights to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) last week, taking off from Toronto on Wednesday evening and Montreal a day later. 

With these new non-stop services, the carrier is offering Canadian travellers direct access to one of South America’s most iconic destinations — and becomes the only airline to connect Montreal directly to Rio de Janeiro.

The new Toronto–Rio de Janeiro service operates twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, through June 10. The Montreal–Rio de Janeiro route, offered exclusively by Air Transat, runs once weekly on Thursdays until June 4. Both routes are served by the Airbus A330.

“Inaugurating our non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro from both Toronto and Montreal is a bold step in expanding our South American offering,” said Sebastian Ponce, Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer. 

“These routes create a direct bridge between Canada and Brazil, making it easier for travellers to experience Rio’s vibrant culture and for families and friends to reunite across continents. And as the only airline offering a non-stop flight from Montreal to Rio, we are proud to provide an exclusive option that brings Canadians and Brazilians closer together.”

Alexandre Monteiro, CEO of RIOgaleão airport stated: “This investment in Rio de Janeiro underscores the strength of the local market and the city’s appeal on the global stage.”

Travellers flying to Rio de Janeiro with Air Transat can benefit from the airline’s interline partnership with GOL Airlines. From Galeão International Airport (GIG), this agreement provides smooth onward connections to GOL’s extensive network of destinations across Brazil and South America. These include major cities such as São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador and Belo Horizonte.