This Canadian Airline Plans Istanbul Flights With A330

MONTREAL- Air Transat (TS) is set to launch a nonstop Toronto (YYZ) to Istanbul (IST) route, its longest at 5,077 miles (8,170 KM), starting December 6, 2025. The new service, its interline partnership with Turkish Airlines (TK), and its impact on Canada-Turkey travel demand.

The year-round route, paired with enhanced connectivity via Turkish Airlines’ network, targets leisure travelers and Canada’s Turkish diaspora. With rising passenger numbers and competitive dynamics, this move strengthens Toronto’s global links through Istanbul.

Photo: BriYYZ | Flickr

Air Transat New Istanbul Route

The nonstop Toronto to Istanbul route will cover a distance of 5,077 miles (4,412 nautical miles), narrowly surpassing Air Transat’s Toronto – Athens route as the longest in its network.

This strategic addition not only expands the leisure airline’s global footprint but also targets two key markets: Canadian travelers heading east and Turkish diaspora communities in Canada.

The interline partnership with Turkish Airlines will grant Air Transat passengers access to over 300 destinations via Istanbul, spanning the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

This agreement significantly boosts options for passengers connecting beyond Turkey, streamlining international travel from Canada.

In 2024, origin and destination (O&D) traffic between Canada and Turkey reached 330,400 two-way passengers, with Toronto–Istanbul emerging as the busiest route, accounting for nearly 40% of this volume.

However, fewer than 40% of these travelers flew nonstop, highlighting the market potential for direct services.

Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Turkish Airlines, TC-LKA, Boeing 777-36N ER, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87337852

Strategic Alliances

Currently, Turkish Airlines operates six weekly flights between Istanbul and Toronto using Boeing 777-300ERs, while Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG) runs a thrice weekly Dhaka–Istanbul–Toronto route with Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Air Transat’s entry adds new competition to this corridor, with the potential to reduce reliance on one-stop itineraries via major hubs like Frankfurt (FRA), London Heathrow (LHR), and Cairo (CAI).

Air Transat also plans to leverage its partnership with Porter Airlines to feed domestic traffic into Toronto. Passengers from Montreal (YUL), Ottawa (YOW), Vancouver (YVR), and cities in the Maritimes will have increased access to the new Istanbul route.

This integration will allow broader national coverage, especially appealing to members of Canada’s 75,000-strong Turkish community.

Since 2024, Canadian citizens can travel to Turkey visa-free, enhancing the route’s appeal among leisure travelers seeking easier access to Turkey’s cultural and historical attractions.

Photo: By BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada – Air Transat Airbus A330-300 C-GTSD, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25906236

Future Outlook

The launch of Air Transat’s year-round Istanbul service marks a pivotal milestone in its long-haul growth strategy. By tapping into underserved direct demand and capitalizing on key partnerships, the airline aims to offer a competitive, full-service alternative to indirect routings.

The move reflects broader industry trends where leisure airlines expand into trunk routes previously dominated by full-service carriers.

As winter schedules approach, this new connection promises increased convenience, reduced travel time, and stronger ties between Canada and one of the world’s most connected hubs, i.e., Istanbul.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

The post This Canadian Airline Plans Istanbul Flights With A330 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.