New Route of the Day – Americas (10 June 2026): Air Canada between Montreal and Nantes
Air Canada added seasonal flights between Montreal and Nantes on Wednesday 10 June. The 5,355-kilometre route will be maintained 3-weekly, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, initially with the 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The new Airbus A321XLR will be deployed on the route from 22 July. The Star Alliance member will compete with Air Transat’s five-weekly service.
Operations will be maintained until 11 October.
What they said
Jean-Francois Raudin, Managing Director France for Air Canada, said: “We are very pleased to celebrate the launch of this new route between Nantes and Montreal, which further strengthens our presence in France and our commitment to the French market. This new route offers not only direct access to Quebec and Canada, but also seamless connections to our entire network in North America, the Caribbean, and South America. We are also delighted to announce the upcoming arrival of our new Airbus A321XLR on this route, a state-of-the-art aircraft that will allow us to offer our customers an even more comfortable and innovative travel experience.”
Guillaume Dubois, Director of Nantes Atlantique Airport, added: “Air Canada’s arrival in Nantes is a strong signal of international investment and confirms the dynamism of our region, in response to sustained demand. Montreal is establishing itself as a key destination in our network, driven by close family, economic, and cultural ties and strong appeal, particularly among young people. This new direct connection benefits both residents of Western France and Quebecers and illustrates VINCI Airports’ ability to support airlines in opening new, structuring routes that serve both the regions and passengers. We are delighted with this partnership with Air Canada, a leading player in global air transport.”
Air France is the largest carrier between France and Canada
Air France leads among the five airlines maintaining flights between France and Canada this summer. The carrier has the highest seat capacity between the two countries with close to 950,000 seats this summer season. It is followed by Air Transat with some 750,000 seats.
Air Canada ranks a close third, with 733,000 seats. The airline serves Paris CDG, Lyon, Nice, Nantes and Toulouse in France.
The Canadian flag carrier is followed by WestJet and French Bee. Overall, available capacity in the France – Canada market in terms of available capacity has remained mostly flat compared to the summer of 2025.
