Air Transat has introduced that it’ll launch a brand new loyalty program within the second half of 2026, in partnership with Desjardins Group and Visa Canada.
This system is billed as providing “accessible and personalised advantages” and an “enriched expertise” all through the shopper journey.
In response to the joint announcement, the initiative brings collectively Air Transat and Desjardins, two Quebec based mostly establishments, with Visa offering the fee community and know-how piece within the background.
New Air Transat Loyalty Program Coming in 2026
The brand new program is scheduled to launch within the second half of 2026. Air Transat describes it as a contemporary, easy and versatile platform designed to reward loyalty and enhance the journey expertise at every step, from reserving to return.
Within the press launch, Xavier Szwengler, Vice President, Advertising and marketing and Distribution at Transat, calls the partnership with Desjardins and Visa Canada a core a part of the corporate’s enterprise technique and a approach to strengthen ties with prospects whereas creating long run worth for Transat and its buyers.
Extra particular particulars, akin to this system title, incomes construction, redemption choices and any standing tiers, haven’t but been launched. Air Transat and its companions state that extra info can be shared within the coming months.
Co-branded Desjardins Visa Playing cards On the Manner
Alongside the loyalty program, Desjardins will launch a brand new line of co branded Visa bank cards that combine with the upcoming Air Transat ecosystem.
Nathalie Larue, Government Vice President, Private Companies and Neighborhood Life at Desjardins Group, says the playing cards are supposed to supply “tangible and personalised advantages” for members and purchasers who journey with Air Transat.
Visa, for its half, highlights that cardholders will profit from safe, seamless funds backed by Visa’s international community, in addition to a give attention to journey alternatives and rewards for Canadians utilizing the brand new merchandise.
At this stage, there isn’t any public details about annual charges, incomes charges, insurance coverage protection, or any Air Transat particular perks akin to free checked luggage, seat choice, or lounge entry.
These particulars will decide how aggressive these playing cards are towards current Canadian airline and financial institution journey merchandise.
Background: From BonBon to a New Platform
The announcement comes after Transat suspended its earlier BonBon rewards program in 2025, leaving Air Transat with out a client dealing with loyalty foreign money for a time frame.
It additionally follows an improved monetary image at Transat A.T. Inc. Trade experiences spotlight that Transat returned to profitability in its 2025 fiscal 12 months, posting roughly $242 million in web revenue after a number of years of losses, supported by increased yields and an ongoing effectivity program.
Towards that backdrop, a renewed give attention to loyalty and co branded playing cards is sensible. For airways, a nicely structured program and a robust card portfolio usually are not simply advertising and marketing instruments, but additionally important contributors to income and buyer retention.
What This May Imply for Canadian Travellers
For now, this can be a excessive degree announcement fairly than a full reveal. Nevertheless, it does affirm that Air Transat intends to compete extra immediately within the Canadian loyalty panorama, alongside Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, VIPorter and the various versatile financial institution factors applications.
Air Transat already has a stable presence on leisure routes, notably to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and chosen locations in the US, South America and North Africa.
A devoted loyalty program with built-in bank cards might give frequent Transat prospects a clearer approach to earn rewards on each flights and on a regular basis spending.
Whether or not this turns into a compelling choice will rely on just a few key components as soon as revealed:
- How rewards are earned on flights and on a regular basis spending
- How redemptions are priced, and whether or not it follows a hard and fast or dynamic pricing mannequin
- Whether or not this system introduces significant tiers or advantages that enhance the journey expertise
Till these particulars are printed, Air Transat travellers might want to proceed counting on current bank card and financial institution factors methods in the event that they need to optimize journeys that contain the airline.
In the intervening time, Air Transat already reveals up inside one other loyalty ecosystem. By way of its three way partnership with Porter Airways, VIPorter members can redeem factors for Air Transat flights on routes to Europe, the Caribbean and past, booked immediately on flyporter.com.
Porter and Air Transat have prolonged their business partnership by means of a three way partnership and codeshare settlement that’s anticipated to run till the tip of 2032.
That implies the connection between the 2 airways is meant to be long run, at the same time as Air Transat prepares to launch its personal loyalty program.
As soon as Air Transat’s in home program goes reside, the almost definitely state of affairs is that it turns into the first approach to earn and redeem on Air Transat whenever you ebook immediately, particularly for travellers who additionally choose up a future Desjardins co branded card.
VIPorter redemptions on Air Transat might then evolve right into a companion type choice, much like how different airline applications supply entry to pick companions at program particular pricing.
In fact, this isn’t confirmed, and each airways have solely mentioned that extra particulars will come later. For now, VIPorter stays a helpful approach to entry some Air Transat routes utilizing factors, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Air Transat’s personal program ultimately enhances that choice or competes with it.
Conclusion
Air Transat has confirmed {that a} new loyalty program is on the way in which for the second half of 2026, constructed round a 3 approach partnership with Desjardins and Visa Canada and accompanied by a collection of co branded bank cards.
For now, the announcement units the course however not the tremendous print. As soon as Air Transat publishes full particulars on incomes, redemption and card advantages, it is going to be doable to see how this new program stacks up towards established choices within the Canadian market and whether or not it deserves a spot in your journey technique.
