TORONTO — Air Transat officially launched the first-ever nonstop air service between Canada and Albania on June 18, celebrating the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Toronto Pearson International Airport ahead of the inaugural flight to Tirana.
The new weekly service operates every Thursday from June 18 through Oct. 8, 2026, with a flight time of approximately nine hours. The route is part of Transat’s big summer expansion, which includes eight new routes across Europe, Africa and North America.
Speaking before the inaugural departure, Howard Liebman, Vice President, Government Relations, Transat, described the launch as a landmark moment not only for Air Transat but for Canada-Albania relations.
“Tonight, we’re not simply launching a new route, we are celebrating a historic milestone,” said Liebman. “For the very first time, a non-stop flight connects Canada to Albania, and with this inaugural service between Toronto and Tirana, we are opening the door to an entire region – the Balkans – and bringing it closer than ever before to North America.”
The flight departed completely full, underscoring the strong demand Air Transat has already seen for the service.
“This flight is leaving 100% full tonight, and for the first several flights as well, which speaks to the huge interest and demand for this flight, both from a tourism perspective, but in particular from the VFR, from the diaspora here from Albania, but also the wider Balkans region as well,” Liebman told Travelweek.
AIR TRANSAT’S BIG SUMMER EXPANSION
The Toronto-Tirana service is one of several new routes launched by Transat for summer 2026, joining Toronto-Accra, Montreal-Agadir, Montreal-Dakar, Montreal-Reykjavik, Quebec City-Marseille, Montreal-Ottawa, Ottawa-London Gatwick and Quebec City-Nantes.
For Liebman, the Albania launch carries particular significance because it followed the recent establishment of bilateral air rights between Canada and Albania.
“There was just a negotiation between Canada and Albania to create the bilateral air rights between the countries, and we immediately launched the route,” he told Travelweek.
The airline believes the route will appeal not only to the Albanian diaspora but also to leisure travellers seeking emerging European destinations.
“Albania is rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s most compelling destinations, offering remarkable affordability, breathtaking landscapes, a rich cultural heritage and truly authentic experiences,” said Liebman.
He added that the response from Canadian travellers has already exceeded expectations.
“Personally, anecdotally, I’ve had so many people tell me that they’ve either recently gone or are desperate now that the flight is there to go. They want to discover somewhere new. They’ve heard a lot about it. It’s near Greece Italy and Croatia, so it’s near markets that we love and that we serve, and we know well. But it’s also something new, and the response has been incredible.”
ALBANIA’S GROWING APPEAL
Dashnor Hasku (left) and Bujar Zejnullahu, co-owners of CanKos Travel by TravelOnly
Among the strongest supporters of the route has been the Albanian-Canadian community, including Bujar Zejnullahu, co-owner and travel advisor at CanKos Travel by TravelOnly.
With between 50% and 65% of his client base having Albanian roots, Zejnullahu said the launch represents a long-awaited milestone.
“Having a direct flight, this is history in the making,” he told Travelweek. “This is the first flight that’s departing today, so everyone’s very happy.”
Beyond visiting friends and relatives, he believes the route has enormous potential as a leisure product.
“Albania is up and coming. The beaches in the south of Albania are absolutely stunning, and a lot of the nice hotels that we’re combining and packaging with Air Transat will give Canadians the opportunity to fly there direct for the first time.”
Zejnullahu agrees with comparisons that position Albania as Europe’s next breakout destination, pointing to its growing international profile.
“Absolutely, Albania is considered the ‘new Croatia’. That’s how we describe it to a lot of clients. Albania wasn’t available to most travellers 30 years ago during communism, and now a lot of Europeans, Americans and Canadians are travelling there. People are often surprised to learn that figures like Dua Lipa, Jim Belushi and Mother Teresa all have Albanian roots,” he said.
Once there, he added, visitors will discover Albania’s code of ethics called ‘besë’, “which means they will be treated with dignity, honour and respect.”
When asked how travel advisors should position Albania to clients, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, Zejnullahu said the destination remains welcoming and continues to attract visitors from around the world.
“Albania is a democratic country and very safe. I go every year with my family and I meet people who travel there from all over the world. This direct flight is just going to drive even more traffic from Canada and that is the goal.”
STRENGTHENING CANADIAN-ALBANIAN TIES
The route’s significance extends beyond tourism, said Dr. Artemis Mallow, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Canada, who described the launch as a major milestone in the relationship between the two countries.
“This is a great moment for our nation, for our two countries, for the relationship between our two countries,” she said.
“Next year we’ll be celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations – so this new flight is a milestone.”
Mallow credited the collaborative efforts of government and industry partners for helping bring the route to life.
“On behalf of the government of Albania I want really to give a warm, heartfelt thanks to all the team that assisted us on this very difficult but very successful achievement.”
Liebman echoed that sentiment, noting that the route creates opportunities well beyond leisure travel.
“It strengthens ties with the Albanian and Balkan diaspora here in Canada,” he said. “It creates new pathways for business, investment and cultural exchange, and it brings communities closer together in a way that only direct air service can.”
A BOOST FOR TRADE AND CONNECTIVITY
The inaugural ceremony also drew support from federal officials, including Yvan Baker, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Canada-Albania Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Baker framed the new service as part of Canada’s broader efforts to strengthen international economic relationships.
“This is not just about Canada-Albania, it’s about the Canadian economy,” he said. “One of the priorities of the Canadian government is to diversify non-U.S. trade. How does that happen? Part of that is about people-to-people ties, developing those connections, and flights like this, connections like this.”
He added that the route benefits far more than the passengers onboard.
“This is not just a win for the people on the plane. This is not just a win for Albania and Canada. This is for all Canadians.”
Transat executives and government officials at the launch ceremony for Air Transat’s new Toronto-Tirana route
LOOKING AHEAD
Although the Toronto-Tirana service is currently scheduled as a seasonal route through October, Air Transat is already seeing encouraging signs for its future.
“When we launch a new route, the plan is to come back,” said Liebman. “Perhaps it can be extended. That’s something the network team will look at.”
For now, the airline is focused on building awareness and maintaining momentum.
“The most important thing I would say to the market is we are willing to launch new routes and make these investments,” he said. “Our doors are open for everybody to come and support the route and go explore Albania and the region, and we will respond to that demand.”
Lead image caption: Dr. Artemis Mallow, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Canada (left), and Howard Liebman, Vice President, Government Relations, Transat at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Air Transat’s new nonstop Toronto–Tirana route at Toronto Pearson International Airport, June 18, 2026
