Air Transat to launch Montreal-Istanbul flights this October

This story was updated on Friday, May 29 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Air Transat has officially announced a new non-stop route between Montreal (YUL) and Istanbul (IST), starting October 29, 2026. 

Operated year-round on an Airbus A330, the service will run twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

With this addition, Air Transat further enhances its distinctive offering in the Canadian market. Combined with three weekly flights from Toronto, travellers from across Canada, from Halifax to Vancouver, including Ottawa, Québec City, Winnipeg and Calgary, will now have access to up to five weekly flights to Istanbul.

“ Expanding our program from our hometown is great news for Quebecers and the local business community,” said Sebastian Ponce, chief revenue officer at Transat, in a press release. 

“Through our partnership with Turkish Airlines, Istanbul becomes much more than a destination, it’s a gateway to one of the most diverse global networks, spanning the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. Our customers can book a single ticket to dozens of destinations beyond Istanbul, all while enjoying Air Transat’s quality of service.”

Launched in 2025, the Toronto–Istanbul route quickly demonstrated strong Canadian demand for travel to Türkiye and beyond. The addition of Montreal naturally complements this offering, building on high-potential routes and disciplined capacity management, two key pillars of Air Transat’s profitable growth strategy.

Flights are now available for booking.

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