Air Transat resumed flights from the UK to Canada on Thursday (16 September) with the restoration of its route between Gatwick and Toronto.
The Canadian airline will be initially flying three times per week from Gatwick to Toronto, with the Manchester-Toronto service resuming on 20 October, which is earlier than previously planned, followed by Glasgow-Toronto on 16 December.
Annick Guerard, Transat’s chief executive, said: “Now that Canada has opened its borders to fully vaccinated foreign nationals, we are thrilled to finally welcome back travellers from the UK and allow them to reconnect with the great white north through our world-renowned travel experience.”
Canada was moved to the UK’s green list in the last traffic light system update in late August, meaning that no quarantine is necessary on returning to the UK.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Air Transat back to Gatwick. Pre-Covid, Toronto was among our top four long-haul destinations, so we know demand is there and it is great news that we are able to offer passengers more opportunity to travel to this fantastic city.”
Flights will be on Transat’s new Airbus 321neo aircraft featuring both economy and a 12-seat Club Class cabins.
Air Transat also said that if it had to change its current flight schedule due to Covid it “would like to reassure travellers affected by major changes that they would be eligible for a refund”.