On January 19, 2026, Air Transat said it will launch a new frequent-flyer program with Desjardins Group, Canada’s largest cooperative financial group, and Visa. The program is planned to go live in the second half of 2026.

Air Transat

Air Transat logo

Air Transat is one of Canada’s best-known leisure airlines. It was founded in 1987, its IATA code is TS, and it is based in Montreal with YUL as its hub. The difference from Air Canada and WestJet is the focus: vacation routes and long-haul trips across the ocean.

In short:

If you are flying from Canada to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, or North Africa for a holiday, Air Transat is often among the cheapest, best-value options.

Air Transat routes and destinations
Air Transat routes and destinations

The three partners: airline, bank, and payment network

The loyalty program is being built by three parties:

  • Air Transat designs the loyalty idea and ties it to the airline’s service.
  • Desjardins Group will issue the cobrand credit card and use its large Canadian customer base to grow the membership.
  • Visa provides the global payment network, so earning points and card rewards is meant to be simpler and more secure.

Xavier Szwengler, Air Transat’s vice-president of marketing and distribution, said the partnership is part of the company’s strategy to deepen customer relationships and create sustainable value faster. Desjardins’ leadership also said the cobrand card will give members concrete, tailored benefits and a closer link to air travel.

What the loyalty program is expected to offer

Air Transat has not published the full benefit rules. From what is public, the program is expected to look like this:

  • A cobrand credit card. The Desjardins Visa is expected to be the main way members earn and redeem rewards.
  • Rewards that are not a standard mileage chart. The emphasis is the overall trip, not only a classic miles balance.
  • A reason to stay. Earning rewards on the cobrand card is meant to keep both frequent and leisure travellers in the program.

The program is also part of Air Transat’s brand expansion, and a way to compete in a crowded North American market. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is already years old, with a large membership and a wide partner network. Air Transat’s new program has a chance to stand out by staying simple and built around leisure travel, which is what a lot of Canadian travellers are looking for.

Launch timing

The official launch is set for the second half of 2026. The card itself, the benefit rules, elite tiers, and how redemptions work have not been published. More of that is expected over the coming months.

Bottom line

A loyalty program with Desjardins and Visa is a real step for Air Transat. It brings the airline’s customer strategy closer to the larger carriers, and the bank and payment partnership gives Canadian travellers a new set of benefits and a new reason to book.