Often described as the “most European” city in North America, the provincial capital of Québec City was established as a trading post by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 and is known today for everything from its cobblestone streets and looming Château Frontenac to the February winter festival known as Carnival.
With the first half of 2026 showing double-digit increases in tourism to the entire province of Québec from many parts of the world and France in particular, Montreal-based vacation airline Air Transat is launching two new seasonal routes to Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) — one from Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) in the southwest of the country that began on May 21 and another in Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) in the northwest of the country that is set to start for the summer season on June 2.
Air Transat to launch flights between Québec City and Marseille, Nantes
Both flights will run seasonally before getting retired on Oct. 9 and 20, respectively, while the latter Nantes route will be brought back for a brief winter period from Dec. 23, 2026 to Jan. 13, 2027.
The former Marseille route will run once a week on Thursdays while the latter Nantes flight will have the same frequency but depart on Tuesdays. Uptake during this period will determine whether they are brought back for a second season in 2027.
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They also represent a growing demand from Canadians interested in flying directly to smaller cities in Europe instead of passing through a major hub like Paris or London.
The Marseille flight was designed as a connector to southern France while the Nantes once is expected to also bring in tourists interested in exploring the Loire Valley. Both routes will run on an Airbus A321LR plane and take approximately seven hours depending on direction. The plane will also be equipped with 12 business class seats.
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“Part of our diversification strategy from Québec City”: Air Transat
“These new routes are part of our diversification strategy from Québec City and respond to growing interest in distinctive European destinations,” Air Transat’s Chief Revenue Officer Sebastian Ponce said in a statement. “They open the door to some of France’s most sought-after regions, delivered through a travel experience that reflects who we are: warm, attentive, and comfortable.”
Launched in 1986 as a holiday airline shuttling Quebecers and other Canadian tourists to warm-weather destinations, Air Transat expanded to run more flights to Europe and South America over the years.
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Along with the new European flights, Air Transat has also trimmed 6% of its flight capacity given the oil crisis set off by the U.S. strike on Iran. The majority of the canceled routes were destined for Cuba, a country that has been hit hard by the U.S.-imposed oil embargo put in place by the Trump administration.
President of the YQB Airport Stéphane Poirier also classified the airline’s new France routes as a response to “clear demand from travelers across the Québec City region and beyond who are seeking access to an even-expanding range of European destinations.”
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