Canadian leisure carrier Air Transat is to target cost-conscious business travellers and has signed its first deal with a UK travel management company.
The airline is making new business fares available to TMCs and has already finalised its first trade partnership with business travel firm Amber Road.
UK and Ireland commercial director Adrian Keating said: “Air Transat’s wide range of frequent services, and choice of cabins and products, make us the ideal airline for cost-conscious business travellers looking to fly from the UK to Canada.
“We are delighted that our first partnership with the business travel community is with Amber Road, which has a proven track record in delivering business travel for SMEs.
“Initial interest from TMCs has been strong, and we are confident of agreeing other partnerships in the weeks ahead.”
Amber Road CEO Clive Wratten added: “We are continually looking to develop new partnerships that deliver value for our clients, and we are sure Air Transat’s new business travel fares from Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow will prove popular with our corporate clients across the UK.
“We look forward to working closely with them to deliver cost-effective business travel from the UK to Canada.”
The new fares will be available on the airline’s daily service from Gatwick to Toronto and on direct and connecting services from Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton and Quebec.
Air Transat will be offering a choice of 40 direct flights and almost 60 connecting services a week from the UK to Canada next summer.
The new business traveller fares will also be available on Air Transat’s connecting flights within Canada, making open jaw and multi-centre business trips possible.
Air Transat offers club class on international flights with winter fares on the Gatwick-Toronto route starting at £952 return and £326 in economy.
Summer club class fares lead-in at £968 and £374 in economy.