Boost for France-Canada flights with new all-year service confirmed

Air travel between France and Canada has received a new boost with another low cost airline announcing that it will offer all-year round flights.

The growing presence of low-cost operators in this market is giving travellers more flexibility in terms of dates and destinations and more competitive prices.

What low cost airlines fly between France and Canada?

The two low cost airlines that fly to Canada are Play Airlines and Air Transat:

• Play Airlines is based in Iceland. While they do not offer direct flights - they always stop in Reykjavik for at least an hour - their prices can be as low as €250 for a one way ticket.

They fly between Toronto Hamilton and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports.

• Air Transat is based in Montreal. They offer direct flights to six French airports from Toronto Hamilton and Montréal-Trudeau airports.

Air Transat announced on October 13 that it is expanding its service to France in June 2024 following a successful year which saw 90% of its flights between Marseille and Montréal fully booked. From June, this route will increase to a daily service.

The route is currently the only direct flight between Marseille Provence and North America, and this announcement means it will be a year-long service.

The eight hour flight from Marseille costs around €400 and uses the modern A321neo, much vaunted for its ecological merits.

It is expected that Air France’s low cost arm Transavia will throw its hat into the ring with a direct flight to Canada within the coming years.

Are there any direct flights between France and Ottawa?

The only airline offering direct flights between the French and Canadian capitals is Air France.

The former national carrier inaugurated the route on June 27, 2023 and now offers a connection between the capitals five days a week all year round.

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