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Air Transat

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

2/5

No frills

Family Traveler

4/5

Service to popular vacation destinations

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

3/5

Service to popular adventure destinations

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Competitive fares

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

3/5

Standard accessibility

Long Term Traveler

2/5

Limited reach

Novice Traveler

3/5

Average user-friendliness

Introduction

Air Transat is a commercial airline that also operates a charter service.  It is based in Montreal, Canada and flies to 60 destinations in Canada and around the world.  The airline’s routes change according to season.  During the summer, there is a focus on European destinations.  During the winter, the number of routes to Mexico and the Caribbean are increased.  Transat is one of Canada’s largest airlines, along with Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet.

Air Transat is a relatively young airline.  It first started service in 1987 with flights from Canada to Mexico.  It has maintained a strong presence on many “vacation” routes and regularly flies charter routes to these destinations.


Ratings

Important Factors 3/5

Average Delay

28%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

0% (no cancelled flights on the Flightstats site)

Customer Satisfaction Rating

3 out of 5 stars

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A310 (soon to exit service), Airbus A330

General 3/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

60

Number of International Flights (Daily)

North and Central America, Europe

Size of Fleet

18

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico, Caribbean, Western Europe

Location of Hub

Montreal Trudeau, Toronto Pearson, Vancouver Int’l

Countries Served

25 Countries

Number of Routes
Most Popular Routes

Paris-Montreal; Montreal-Toronto; Montreal-Rome; Toronto-Montreal

In-Flight 3/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

All routes have for purchase snacks

Food Quality

Snacks only

In-flight Menu

Beverage service included, fees for all snacks

Average Leg Room

30-32 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

In flights over 2.5 hours, newly-released movies, television shows, audio and beginning Spanish lesson; Atmosphere magazine

Baggage 4/5

Baggage Fees

None

Number of Bags Allowed

1

Weight Limits and Restrictions

Depending on destination, weight maximums are between 20kgs and 50kgs

Web Site 3/5

Online Check-in

Yes

Web Site Usability

Average

Special Needs 3/5

Handicap Accessibility

Standard accessibility

Pets

No pets allowed in the cabin, except service animals. No pets can be transported into the United Kingdom. Fees according to weight

Special Offers /Partners 4/5

Airline Alliance Membership

None

Hotel Partners

None

Competing Airlines

Air Canada, WestJet, Jazz

Strengths
  • Cheap flights to vacation destination
  • No baggage fees
  • Often cheaper than competing airlines

Weaknesses
  • Limited reach and only seasonal service
  • Not known for in-flight services
  • No airline alliance
  • A la carte pricing for in-flight services

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

Air Transat does not have a frequent flier program and does not provide lounge access to its fliers.

Conclusion

Air Transat is a charter airline that has made a successful change into a commercial airline. It focuses on flying from Canada to vacation destinations in the US, Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. Routes change according to season. Transat is a good option for vacationers seeking cheaper flights.