Air Transat to End All US Flights by June 2026 Amid Weakening Demand

Air Transat will cease all scheduled services to the United States after June 13, 2026, a strategic withdrawal driven by declining transborder travel demand. The airline's final U.S. service will be a flight from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale. This decision marks a significant network adjustment for the Montreal-based leisure carrier, which is reallocating resources toward its core transatlantic markets.

The move reflects a broader trend among Canadian airlines reassessing their U.S. capacity. For travelers, this decision eliminates direct Air Transat flights to popular U.S. destinations, particularly in Florida, underscoring a notable shift in the Canada-U.S. leisure travel landscape.

Phased Withdrawal and Final Flights

The exit from the U.S. market will be phased over several months. According to aviation consulting firm Ailevon Pacific, the final services on remaining routes have been scheduled. The last Montreal to Orlando flight is set for May 4, 2026, while the Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale route will conclude on May 30, 2026. The complete withdrawal will be finalized with the last Montreal to Fort Lauderdale flight on June 13, 2026.

This withdrawal follows earlier reductions in the airline's U.S. network. At its peak in March 2025, Air Transat operated nine routes to the United States. The carrier, which uses the IATA (International Air Transport Association) designator TS, has determined that the market no longer aligns with its strategic priorities.

Declining Demand Drives Decision

The primary driver for Air Transat's exit is weakening demand from Canadian travelers for U.S. destinations. Data from Statistics Canada validates this trend, showing that Canadian-resident return trips from the U.S. fell to 1.6 million in January 2026, a 24.3% decrease compared to January 2025. Specifically, air travel by Canadian residents returning from the U.S. saw a 17.8% year-over-year decline in the same period.

Air Transat confirmed the limited scale of its U.S. operations. In a statement, a spokesperson noted that U.S. routes represented only 1% of the airline's total ASK (Available Seat-Kilometre) capacity for the summer season. An ASK is a standard industry measure of passenger carrying capacity, calculated by multiplying available seats by the distance flown.

Marie-Eve Vallières, a spokesperson for Air Transat, elaborated on the rationale. “This adjustment is part of a proactive management of our capacity, as we focus our efforts on markets where Air Transat is best positioned and that allow us to optimize the deployment of our resources,” she stated. “Florida represents a market where our exposure remains very limited and that is more fragile in the current context.”

Industry Context and Capacity Management

Air Transat's decision is not an isolated event. Other Canadian carriers, including WestJet, have also cut numerous U.S. routes, citing a 'notable decline in transborder travel demand' in 2025. This industry-wide trend points to a strategic pivot where airlines engage in proactive capacity management, redeploying aircraft from underperforming markets to more robust ones.

For Air Transat, this means concentrating its fleet of 43 Airbus aircraft, which includes the fuel-efficient A321LR (Airbus A321 Long Range), on its primary transatlantic network to Europe. By exiting the highly competitive and currently weakening Canada-Florida market, the airline can better utilize its assets to serve destinations where it has a stronger market position and brand recognition.

Future Network and Partnerships

While Air Transat is ending its own scheduled U.S. flights, passengers will still have options for U.S. connectivity through the airline's partners. Air Transat has a joint venture and codeshare agreement with Porter Airlines, which will allow customers to book connecting itineraries to some U.S. destinations served by Porter. This partnership provides a crucial, albeit indirect, link to the U.S. market, preserving some revenue streams and passenger loyalty.

The airline's forward-looking strategy will heavily emphasize its European network, which has historically been its core business. Resources previously allocated to the small U.S. network will be redirected to bolster frequencies and potentially open new routes across the Atlantic, where demand remains more resilient.

Why This Matters

This strategic exit by Air Transat highlights the volatility of the post-pandemic travel market and the disciplined approach airlines are taking to protect profitability. It signals a significant contraction in the Canada-U.S. transborder leisure sector, driven by shifting economic factors and consumer preferences. For the aviation industry, it serves as a clear example of an airline trimming non-core routes to double down on its primary strengths, in this case, the transatlantic market.

Access up-to-date commercial aviation news and airline industry developments via flying.flights. Track policy changes, airspace rules, and global aviation governance in the Regulatory category at flying.flights/regulatory.