Direct Canada–Rio flights land this winter

Air Transat has launched its first direct services to Rio de Janeiro, marking the airline’s debut on the Brazil market. The inaugural flights departed Toronto on 4 February and Montreal on 5 February, opening a new South American link for the winter season. With this move, Air Transat becomes the only carrier offering a non-stop connection between Montreal and Rio de Janeiro.

The Toronto–Rio service operates twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and is scheduled to run until 10 June 2026. Flights from Montreal are offered once a week on Thursdays, continuing until 4 June 2026. Both routes are operated using Airbus A330 aircraft, adding widebody capacity suited to long-haul leisure travel during the peak winter period.

The new flights respond to rising interest in travel between Canada and Brazil, especially via Toronto Pearson and Montréal–Trudeau airports. Passenger numbers between the two countries have remained consistent, with Toronto handling a significant share of this traffic. Introducing a direct service from Montreal alongside Toronto widens access and allows more journeys to be made without changing planes at intermediate hubs.

What the new services open up

• Easier access to Rio’s beaches, Carnival venues and coastal neighbourhoods
• Direct links to cultural sites such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Tijuca National Park
• Simple onward travel within Brazil via GOL Airlines
• Faster journeys to cities including São Paulo, Salvador and Recife

Beyond Rio itself, the flights make wider parts of Brazil easier to reach in a single trip. GOL’s domestic network allows smooth onward travel to major business centres, historic cities and coastal regions, supporting itineraries that mix city stays with beach or nature-focused travel. This strengthens Brazil’s appeal for longer winter breaks rather than short, single-city visits.

The launch points to a change in how long-haul leisure routes are scheduled for winter. Direct flights, modest frequencies and clear seasonal limits show a cautious approach to matching capacity with demand. Travelling south during colder months becomes more straightforward, with non-stop services cutting journey time and removing the need for connections, turning a far-off destination into a single overnight flight.