What's new | Air Transat
Air Transat revives Quebec City–Nantes direct service for the first time since Corsair ended the route in 2014, with the launch helping push Nantes past 100,000 total annual seats to and from Canada for the first time ever.
Air Transat commenced weekly nonstop service between Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City (YQB) and Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) on June 2, 2026, using Airbus A321LR aircraft. The route was confirmed on Air Transat's official new-destinations page and is listed as a brand-new city pair in the carrier's summer 2026 schedule.
The Quebec City–Nantes market last had direct service in 2014, when Corsair operated the corridor, per Simple Flying's weekly routes feature. No other airline had revived it in the 12 years between Corsair's exit and Air Transat's 2026 launch.
The launch contributes to a historic capacity milestone: combined with Air Canada's upcoming Montreal–Nantes launch later in June, Nantes surpasses 100,000 total annual seats to and from Canada for the first time in its history, according to Simple Flying. This reflects France's secondary cities — particularly western ones like Nantes and Bordeaux — becoming viable long-haul destinations as A321LR economics make smaller frequencies profitable.
For Quebec travelers, the new service provides nonstop access to western France and the Loire Valley without connecting through Paris Charles de Gaulle or Montreal. Air Transat's Quebec City expansion strategy — which also includes an existing route to Marseille (from May 21) — recognizes that passengers in Quebec's regional market have strong cultural and linguistic ties to France beyond just Paris, per Simple Flying's Air Transat network analysis.
Sources
- https://www.airtransat.com/en-CA/whats-new
- https://simpleflying.com/notable-airline-routes-210
- https://simpleflying.com/air-transats-massive-expansion-7-new-transatlantic-routes
Things to do at each end of the route
Top-rated tours & experiences in Quebec and Nantes.