In a significant development for transatlantic travel, Air Transat has confirmed the launch of non-stop flights between Toronto and Istanbul, set to begin on December 6, 2025. This new service will operate twice weekly using the airline’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Through the launch is planned for winter- typically a less popular travel season for Istanbul- the route is strategically timed and rooted in a broader partnership with Turkish Airlines. The two carriers recently finalized an interline agreement, enabling smoother connections for passengers travelling beyond both hubs.
Istanbul becomes Air Transat longest route, The Toronto-Istanbul route, spanning over 4,400 nautical miles (8,193 km), will become the airline’s longest flight, narrowly exceeding the current Toronto-Athens route.. The move marks a major expansion for the leisure-focused airline, which has not operated a route of his length since ending its Montreal-Tel Aviv service in 2018.
Air Transat’s route to Istanbul will be its sixth longest ever, showcasing the airline’s history of venturing into ambitious long-haul destinations.
Tapping into a growing market, Travel between Canada and Turkey has been on the rise, with nearly 325, 000 passengers flying between the two countries in the past year. The amount of over 130,000 travelled between Toronto and Istanbul specifically through the majority had to connect via third-party hubs due to limited direct flight options.
Part of this growth is attributed to Canada’s visa-free access to Turkey, which has made travel smoother for Canadian citizens. The route also benefits from significant demand within the Turkish-Canadian community, as well as strong tourism interest on both sides.
A strategic partnership with Turkish Airlines, This new Air Transat route does more than just serve local travelers; it also expands network access for both airlines. Through a partnership, Air Transat passengers can now connect to numerous onward destinations from Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. In return, Turkish Airlines gets an indirect boost in Toronto, where it’s currently limited by regulations on adding flights.
Turkish Airlines currently operates six weekly flights to Toronto using its largest aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER. However, due to regulatory restrictions, they can’t offer daily or more frequent service. Air Transat will help overcome this by utilizing unused traffic rights available to Canadian carriers.
The relationship mirrors the model used by Air Canada and Emirates, offering travelers more flexibility and routing options through inter-airline collaboration.
Launching in winter: A calculated Bet, it will launching in December may seem unusual for a leisure-focused airline, as Istanbul tends to attract more tourists in warmer months. However, this early entry could help Air Transat establish a foothold before peak season arrives in spring and summer.
Looking ahead, with increasing global partnerships and expanding route maps, Air Transat’s entry into the Toronto–Istanbul corridor is a timely move. It addresses a long underserved market, strengthens cooperation between two carriers, and offers Canadian travelers more direct options — all while pushing the airline’s operational boundaries.
Whether this twice-weekly service becomes a long-term success remains to be seen, but it represents a thoughtful and strategic step forward in Canada’s international aviation landscape.
