Emboldened by what it calls solid bookings for its flights from Montreal to Marrakesh, Air Transat says it’s looking to expand further into Africa.
According to Flight Global, Transat CEO Annick Guérard told reporters on 23APR that bookings for the Montreal-based carrier are on track for its first flights to Africa this summer. Transat is planning twice-weekly flights from YUL to Marrakesh RAK starting on 12JUN, with a reduced schedule of once weekly flights during winter months.
“We’re very pleased about the booking so far,” Guérard said.“We have spoken about the fact that we want to increase our network in North Africa and potentially other places in Africa.”
“This is definitely a goal and part of our strategy in terms of network development,” she added, according to Flight Global.
Guérard, however, cautioned that Transat is still having challenges with its Pratt & Whitney engines, which is hindering expansion plans.
Transat flights between YUL and RAK will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays through 24OCT using Airbus A321LR aircraft. Flights will then be reduced to one roundtrip per week on Saturdays until 20APR 2025.
As well as playing up the idea of Africa expansion, Guérard said Transat is looking to take on the big boys of Canadian aviation.
She noted that Transat in June will launch the first phase of its joint venture with Porter Airlines.
The two companies “intend to coordinate flight schedules and routes in an effort to expand their respective networks and do what many other airlines have attempted unsuccessfully; compete with Air Canada and WestJet,” Flight Global reports.
“The coordination is going to take effect during the summer, basically connecting the domestic and transborder network of Porter with our European network,” Guérard said. “Making sure there is a flow of passengers between those three networks is the first phase.”
Porter and Transat will take another step in the fall when they begin coordinating their networks in the States, Flight Global said.
It may take a couple years, but, together, the two airlines have the potential to become “extremely competitive against Air Canada,” Guérard said.
