Air Transat Launches First-Ever Toronto–Tirana Flights + More Summer 2026 Flights

Air Transat is doubling down on its role as Canada’s leisure airline and for summer 2026, it’s doing so with its most ambitious network expansion ever.

The headline grabber? A brand-new, nonstop route from Toronto (YYZ) to Tirana (TIA), Albania, launching June 18, 2026. The once‑weekly service will operate on an Airbus A330, making Air Transat the first airline to connect North America directly with Albania.

For Canadian travellers looking beyond the usual European hotspots, this is a big deal.

Read on to learn more about this exciting new route + many more.

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Why Tirana Is a Big Win for Canadian Travellers

Albania has quietly become one of Europe’s most exciting emerging destinations. Think:

• Stunning Adriatic and Ionian coastlines
• Historic cities like Berat and Gjirokastër
• Mediterranean food at Balkan prices
• Easy onward travel to Greece, Montenegro, and North Macedonia

Until now, getting there from Canada meant at least one (often two) connections. A nonstop from Toronto changes the game — especially for travellers who value simplicity, comfort, and time savings.

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A Record-Breaking Summer 2026 Network

The Toronto–Tirana route is just one piece of Air Transat’s largest-ever summer program, which includes:

• Nine new routes
• Several seasonal services becoming year‑round
• Increased frequencies on flagship European and leisure routes

According to Air Transat, the strategy is about smarter fleet use, sustainable growth, and most importantly, giving Canadians more nonstop options to inspiring destinations.

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New Air Transat Routes for Summer 2026

Here’s a snapshot of what’s new:

From Toronto (YYZ)

• Accra (ACC): 2x weekly, starting June 17, 2026
• Tirana (TIA): 1x weekly, starting June 18, 2026

From Montreal (YUL)

• Agadir (AGA): 1x weekly
• Dakar (DSS): 2x weekly
• Reykjavik (KEF): 2x weekly
• Ottawa (YOW): 3x weekly

From Quebec City (YQB)

• Marseille (MRS): 1x weekly
• Nantes (NTE): 1x weekly (A321LR)

From Ottawa (YOW)

• London Gatwick (LGW): 3x weekly

All frequencies reflect peak-season operations.

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Quebec City Gets a Major Boost 🇫🇷

Quebec City continues to be a major focus for Air Transat in 2026, with several standout improvements:

• New nonstop flights to Nantes (NTE) starting June 2, 2026
• New Quebec City–Marseille (MRS) service
• Up to six weekly flights to Paris (CDG) during peak summer
• Fort‑de‑France (FDF) upgraded to year‑round service

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More Year-Round Sun & Stronger Frequencies

Air Transat is also extending several popular southern routes beyond winter:

• Toronto & Montreal → Cartagena–Medellín
• Montreal → Pointe‑à‑Pitre
• Montreal → San José
• Quebec City → Fort‑de‑France

On top of that, travellers will see higher frequencies on in-demand routes like:

• Toronto → Berlin
• Toronto → Venice
• Toronto → Istanbul
• Montreal → Madrid
• Montreal → Brussels
• Quebec City → Paris

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Better Connections, Too

Air Transat continues to strengthen its network through partnerships with:

• Porter Airlines (domestic & transborder connections)
• Turkish Airlines (Europe, Middle East, beyond via Istanbul)
• GOL Airlines (Brazil and South America)

For all of us, that means smoother one‑ticket journeys and better access to destinations well beyond Air Transat’s nonstop map.

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The Bottom Line

A nonstop Toronto–Tirana flight is exactly the kind of expansion we love to see, as it speaks to a bigger shift in how Canadians can travel.

As more Canadian airports gain nonstop access to places like Albania, travellers have greater freedom to explore beyond the usual gateways — whether that means discovering lesser-known countries, building more creative itineraries, or simply enjoying a smoother journey from takeoff to touchdown.

Air Transat’s Summer 2026 network shows a clear commitment to expanding nonstop options from Canada, and that’s a win for travellers who value simplicity, access, and choice.