Air Transat making its first commercial flight after months without service

After 112 days of air downtime due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Transat is making its first commercial flight on Thursday.

As one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world and Canada’s holiday travel leader, Transat is resuming air activity after four months without flying.

There will be three international flights and three domestic flights flying out July 23. The company’s 24-route summer schedule will be “up and running” by August 2.

“July 23 is, and will remain, a very special day in the history of Transat. We are gradually resuming our flight operations after a 112-day shutdown,” said Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer, Transat.

“There will be excitement in the air during our carrier’s first takeoffs this evening. The entire Transat team, starting with our on-duty flight crews, is very pleased to return to action and to offer our passengers a restyled experience adapted to the situation. The skies are slowly clearing and that is encouraging, but it in no way means that the crisis caused by COVID-19 is over.”

For perspective, two days after September 11, 2001, Transat announced the gradual resumption of its flights. It’s taken 114 days for this resumption due to coronavirus.

The company has said that the “travelling experience has been completely revamped” and have provided a Traveller Care Program for customers to reference before flying, during check-in, during boarding, on-board, and before their return flight.

The company’s carrier also took delivery of three new Airbus A321neoLR aircraft in July.

“This new-generation aircraft is ideal to support the resumption of flight operations, because of, among other things, its medium capacity, extended range and fuel efficiency,” Transat said.