Transat A321 Neo LR Is A Holiday Bonus
The new Airbus A321 Neo LR will have an increasing prominence in vacation programs by Transat, as deliveries of the aircraft multiply for the national tour operator.
Two A321 Neo LR aircraft are already operating on Transat flights from Montreal and Toronto, and there will be four in operation for the 2019/20 winter escape season, including one based in Vancouver, said Transat executives at a lunch meeting with key agency partners and media recently.
“There is more space for passengers, with wider economy class seats than an A330,” said Joseph Adamo, chief distribution officer for the company. He contributed to the cabin/seating configuration for the Airbus when it was being designed for Transat, and that template is being applied to a total of 15 aircraft that have been ordered by the Montreal-based company.
“It is the best single aisle commercial passenger aircraft in the air now,” he said, noting that Transat is the first carrier in North America to fly the A321 Neo LR.
It is configured with 12 seats in Transat’s premium Club Class cabin, and 187 in economy class, for a total of 199 – well short of the maximum seat capacity of 244, said Adamo, confirming that passenger comfort had been prioritized.
Four new flight programs for Vancouver were featured as part of the fall product roll-out by Transat. This includes a schedule of flights to Liberia and San Jose in Costa Rica, that will run from December to April. Tour prices are starting at $2,659 per person.
Also, a schedule of flights to Punta Cana from YVR will stretch from Dec. 17 to April 21, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Transat is working hard to restore confidence in the destination after a spate of American tourist deaths there earlier in the year. Transat is offering an increase of BonBon cash rewards for the booking of D.R. holidays by agents.
Flight schedules will also be in operation to Fort Lauderdale from Vancouver, from Dec. 20 to April 19 on Fridays and Sundays. At six hours in length, it is the fastest way to southern Florida from Vancouver, and is a popular way to fly in for a cruise, says Transat.
And finally, a schedule of regular flights to Montreal is also being sold, adding to the successful domestic flight program that Transat has been running for four years. “The flights are full, feeding our Europe tours, and with Europe feeding into Canada,” said Dean Neville, the Transat sales manager for Western Canada. Europe destinations during winter include Paris, Lyon, Rome, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Barcelona, Madrid, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Manchester and others.
“There is an overall increase in capacity from the West this year, said Neville. For instance, Winnipeg will get a longer flying season to capture Spring Break travellers, plus add more capacity to Varadero; Edmonton will get a longer program to Hautulco, plus increased capacity in the fall; and Calgary will also get increased fall capacity. “We’re doing well so far,” he said.
Adamo broached the subject of pending approvals for the purchase of Transat for Air Canada, saying that the sale is still being reviewed by federal authorities, and that the deal would probably be finalized by June 2020.
“It’s a lengthy process, the #1 and #3 airlines are merging, and the authorities have to determine if the sale is good for the economy, good for the travel industry and good for consumers,” he said.
In the photo
Transat executives (l. to r.) including Dean Neville, the Transat sales manager for Western Canada; Cole Keitamo, the Transat groups manager for Western Canada; and Joseph Adamo, chief distribution officer for Transat Inc., met with key travel agency partners in Vancouver recently.
