Air Transat Launches Montreal–Dakar, First Direct Flight Between Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa

Air Transat inaugurated the first-ever direct air service between Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa on June 18, 2026, with inaugural flight TS722 departing Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) for Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS), Dakar, Senegal. The seasonal route operates twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays using an Airbus A321LR, running through October 18, 2026.

The launch is a historic first: no airline had previously offered a nonstop connection between Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa. Senegal was selected partly for its large Francophone diaspora community in Québec and the travel demand generated by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted in Canada, the US, and Mexico. The route follows Air Transat's June 12 launch of Montreal–Agadir, Morocco, making Dakar its second new African service this summer season.

"With Dakar, we are pioneers, becoming the first airline to offer a direct connection between Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa," said Sebastian Ponce, Chief Revenue Officer at Transat, in the official Air Transat press release distributed June 18, 2026. Montreal airport authority ADM Vice President Karl Brochu described Montréal-Trudeau as "the first airport in Canada to offer a direct flight to the Senegalese capital." The launch was independently confirmed by trade outlets Open Jaw, PAX News, and Africa's APA News agency.

Sources

• https://www.marketscreener.com/news/2026-06-18-a-montreal-to-reykjav-k-and-dakar-two-new-routes-offered-by-air-transat-ce7f5cddd089f12d
• https://openjaw.com/newsroom/airline/2026/06/19/inaugural-air-transat-flights-depart-montreal-for-senegal-iceland
• https://apanews.net/dakar-montreal-open-maiden-direct-flight
• https://www.paxnews.com/news/airline/montreal-reykjavik-dakar-air-transat-inaugurates-two-new-routes