Air Transat Commences Flights To Peru

Canadian leisure carrier Air Transat recently announced further network expansion into South America during the upcoming northern winter schedule. Subject to government approvals the airline will fly to Lima, Peru twice weekly from Toronto and once a week from Montreal. Air Transat is part of the Transat A.T. Inc. tourism consortium operating to ‘some 60 destinations in more than 25 countries in the Americas and Europe.’

The Toronto-Lima route will commence on 20 December and is scheduled to run until April 24, 2024. Montreal-Lima is scheduled to be operated between Dec. 22 through April 26 of next year, with both routes appealing to the lucrative market of Canadian travelers escaping winter weather.

Michèle Barre, Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer, said, “We are proud to add Lima to our portfolio of destinations on three continents. This strategic expansion allows us to diversify our long-haul offering by maximizing the use of our A321LR aircraft, and to capitalize on the sustained growth of tourism in South America.” Air Transat operates the Airbus A321LR aircraft in a two-class configuration with 12 Club Class seats with a 38-inch pitch and 187 economy seats.

In addition to Lima, Peru being added to Air Transat’s network the airline also advised the recommencement of service between Montreal and Cozumel, Mexico. “We are consolidating our presence in the Mexican market – a key destination of our Caribbean winter program – by restarting our operations in Cozumel,” said Barre. Flights from Montreal to Cozumel will be a weekly service commencing on Dec. 15 and operating until April 26, 2024.

The post-pandemic travel period has been positive for Air Transat and its parent corporation with its offering of flights and holiday packages. In June the company reported a continued momentum of higher revenues leading into the northern summer period. “For the second quarter of 2023, Transat reported a solid performance, with an adjusted operating income of $56.1 million, nearly 40 percent higher than in the same quarter of 2019,” Annick Guérard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat said at the time.  “At mid-year, and based on current booking trends, we are raising the target for the adjusted operating income margin from the initially set range of 4 percent to 6 percent to a target of 5.5 percent to 7 percent for the fiscal year.”

Air Transat is operating a schedule at 89 percent of 2019 levels over the summer period with 80 percent of the capacity aimed at the lucrative European market. A strategy of fleet optimization enabled the airline to maintain 2019 capacity levels over the Winter 2023 schedule by having 20 fewer aircraft in service. Guérard also credited “better price management, thanks to improved practices and new tools” with the airline’s ability “to maximize revenues and seize market opportunities.”

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John Flett

John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry.

During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team that created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff, balancing a mix of corporate and social content.

John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a Masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. He has been the course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university and a member of Heathrow Community Trust’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.

John is currently living in Canada and is contracted as an external instructor for aviation-related organizations.

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