by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 3:45 PM ET, Mon February 9, 2026
Last week marked Air Transat's first flights from Canada to Brazil. The inaugural flights departed from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) on Feb. 4 and Montreal Trudeau (YUL) on Feb. 5, winging their way to Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (GIG). Air Transat’s is the only flight connecting Montreal and Rio.
“Inaugurating our non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro from both Toronto and Montreal is a bold step in expanding our South American offering,” said Sebastian Ponce, Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer. “These routes create a direct bridge between Canada and Brazil, making it easier for travellers to experience Rio’s vibrant culture and for families and friends to reunite across continents. And as the only airline offering a non-stop flight from Montreal to Rio, we are proud to provide an exclusive option that brings Canadians and Brazilians closer together.”
The Toronto route will operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, until June 10, 2026. The Montreal route runs once a week on Thursdays until June 4, 2026. Both routes are served by the Airbus A330.
“Travel between Canada and Rio de Janeiro is a growing market, with 44,000 passengers travelling annually between these two markets, nearly half of which arrive and depart from Toronto Pearson,” said Kurush Minocher, Chief Commercial Officer, Toronto Pearson. “Air Transat’s new non-stop service responds directly to this momentum and gives our passengers even more options to reach Brazil and the legendary skyline of Rio de Janeiro. We’re proud to support this route and the opportunities it creates for both business and leisure travellers.”
From Rio, Transat passengers will have access to a network to South American destinations through the airline’s partnership with GOL. From Galeão International Airport (GIG), the agreement provides onward connections via GOL to major cities such as São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador and Belo Horizonte.
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