Air Transat resumes direct Manchester to Toronto flights

Canadian airline, Air Transat, has announced it will resume direct flights between Toronto and Manchester Airport for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic halted travel.

From Wednesday 20th October, a weekly service will connect the North with Canada’s financial capital, the only direct service from the region to Canada. The weekly flights will operate from Terminal One at Manchester Airport.

The recovery of Manchester’s connection to Canada follows the reinstatement of direct services to destinations such as Singapore and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, and is expected to further bolster the North’s economic recovery. Canada is one of the UK’s largest trading partners outside Europe, with total trade between the two countries at £20.9 billion in the 12 months to June 2021¹, and Toronto is Canada’s financial capital.

In an additional boost, TUI is set to begin flights to a range of winter sun destinations this month, all flying from the new-look Terminal Two, which opened in July. Passengers will be able to fly with the package holiday provider to Cancun (Mexico), Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) and Montego Bay (Jamaica) from this Sunday (17^th October). Hurghada, also in Egypt, resumes on 18^th October and Cape Verde flights start to Sal on 24^th October plus Boa Vista on 25^th October.

Transatlantic travellers to Barbados will also get further choice of airlines this winter, as Aer Lingus launches its first direct service from Manchester. Further routes to the US are also planned: Manchester to New York, JFK will commence on 1^st December and Orlando from 11^th December.

The airline’s new direct transatlantic routes will operate from Terminal Two, whereas its established routes to Ireland will continue to operate from Terminal One. This means that if passengers are travelling to the US with a transfer in Dublin, rather than flying directly, they will need to go to Terminal One. Passengers are advised to check which terminal they are flying from before arrival at the airport.

Covid-19 safety measures and processes

Throughout the pandemic Manchester Airport has had a range of Covid-19 safety measures in place and will maintain these after October 4^th to ensure that we provide a safe environment for staff and passengers. These include Perspex screens and an enhanced cleaning regime, with 116 hand sanitising stations throughout the site provided by the airport’s sanitary partner Carex.

The airport also continues to follow the latest Government and Public Health England advice, as it has done throughout the pandemic. As such, it requests that passengers continue to wear a face covering where possible. For all the latest information, read more here.

Government Advice and Restrictions

In addition to checking the latest airport information, passengers are also advised to keep abreast of Government restrictions and advice. Although the system for international travel will be simplified from the start of next week, some rules will remain in place, and quarantine requirements may still apply if you are not double-vaccinated. See the government website for further information.

Manchester Airport has extensive testing facilities on site, offering pre and post travel options. All the information and prices can be found on the airport’s website.