Canadian carrier Air Transat has announced it will continue to offer its Montreal to Lyon service in Winter 2023/24, making it a year-round service.
The French connection
With the announcement, the Montreal-based carrier became the only airline to operate a direct service year-round.
The flights to Lyon will operate three days per week – Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – during the Winter 2023/2024.
Connecting the two major cities of the Francophonie (the global community of French-speaking peoples) is intended to entice Canadian tourists to experience the city as a gastronomic centre and popular ski destination.
The carrier already operates the Montreal-Lyon route in the Summer season seven times a week. Lyon is the second French destination added to the airline’s year-round programme, the other being Paris.
The other seasonal cities offered to France are Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse.
Air Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer, Michèle Barre, said: “As the leading carrier between Quebec and France, it was natural for us to add Lyon and its region to our winter program.”
The route announcement comes after Air Transat announced positive news in its Q1 2023 financial results.
New Generation Long Haul
The route is being planned on the carriers new Airbus A321LR. The aircraft is the new generation variant of one of the world’s most successful narrowbody aircraft.
The new A321LR is Airbus’ long-range variant of the new A321neo family – “neo” meaning “new engine option”. The neo is equipped with new, more fuel-efficient and quieter engines than the aircraft’s older versions.
Airbus promotes the A321LR as “ideally suited to transatlantic routes” and allowing “airlines to tap into new long-haul markets not previously accessible with current single-aisle aircraft.”
The aircraft is able to carry approx. 206 passengers on transatlantic routes by using three additional centre fuel tanks (ACTs), alongside its efficiency developments.
The A321LR will is easily adaptable to low-cost, long-haul routes, particularly new routes being explored. On that topic, Ai Transat’s Barre said: “our A321LR fleet is the best tool to meet this goal.”
Air Transat’s A321LR aircraft are fitted with multi-class cabins and modern in-seat entertainment systems.
Barre concluded: “We are delighted to meet the growing demand between Canada and France, which will benefit winter sports enthusiasts, business travellers and the expat community alike.”
