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Friday,  August 7, 2026   7:56 AM
Air Transat expands service from YQB with Marseille & Nantes
Les Machines de l'Île in Nantes, France. (Unsplash/Pascal Bernardon)

Air Transat has launched new routes connecting Quebec City airport to two major French cities: Marseille and Nantes.

The Quebec City (YQB) – Marseille (MRS) route was inaugurated May 21 and will operate once weekly, on Thursdays, until October 9, 2026.

Meanwhile, service between Quebec City and Nantes (NTE) will begin on June 2, with one weekly flight every Tuesday through October 20, 2026.

 In addition, the Nantes route will also be offered during the holiday season, from December 23, 2026, to January 13, 2027, meeting demand for this destination at a key time of year.

“These new routes are part of our diversification strategy from Quebec City and respond to growing interest in distinctive European destinations,” said Sebastian Ponce, Transat’s chief revenue officer, in a press release.

“They open the door to some of France’s most sought-after regions, delivered through a travel experience that reflects who we are: warm, attentive, and comfortable.”

From left: Sébastian Ponce, Chief Revenue Offier at Transat, Vincent Caron, Member of Portneuf and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Howard Liebman, Vice-President of Government Relations at Transat, Camille Pauly, Deputy Consul General of France in Québec City, Stéphane Poirier, President and CEO at YQB, Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Quebec City, Frédéric Dubé, Executive Vice-President at l’Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec et Jean-François Simard, Minister of Employment and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region. (Supplied)

The routes are operated using the Airbus A321LR, a new-generation aircraft combining fuel efficiency with enhanced comfort, enabling non-stop transatlantic flights from Quebec City.

The aircraft also features an intimate 12-seat Club Class, offering personalized, high-quality service for an elevated travel experience.

“With the addition of two new direct routes to Europe, Air Transat is responding to clear demand from travellers across the Quebec City region and beyond who are seeking access to an even-expanding range of European destinations,” said Stéphane Poirier, President and CEO of YQB, in a statement.

“The arrival of flights to Marseille and Nantes from Quebec City reflects the airline’s renewed confidence in our market and reinforces YQB’s role as a preferred gateway to Quebec City for French and international tourists. In 2025, direct routes with Paris generated $33 million in tourism spending in the region, and these new routes will further increase these economic benefits.”


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