As Canadian snowbirds seek warmer alternatives to the impending winter, Air Transat has announced new direct flight routes to Latin America, expanding options for travelers looking to bypass the United States for their tropical getaways. Following in the footsteps of Air Canada, which recently launched an impressive array of routes, Air Transat’s latest offerings focus on connecting major Canadian hubs to Rio de Janeiro.
Air Transat has initiated two direct flights linking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with Montréal and Toronto, providing additional choices for Canadian travelers. The first route, connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (GIG), will operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Meanwhile, the new Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) route commenced service, with flights departing Thursdays from Canada and Fridays from Brazil.
This increase in tourism connectivity comes as Rio de Janeiro has reported record-breaking tourism numbers, welcoming 12.5 million visitors in 2025, which included a significant surge of 2.1 million international tourists – a 44.8% increase year on year. Osmar Lima, the city’s Municipal Secretary of Economic Development, credited these achievements to the enhancement of flight options and a robust calendar of events designed to attract both leisure and business travelers.
A notable factor in this tourism shift is the Canadian-U.S. travel boycott that began in early 2025, following controversial remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump. This prompted many Canadians to look for alternative vacation spots, significantly influencing travel patterns. As a result, airlines are responding by providing more routes to appealing destinations in Latin America. Air Canada, for instance, introduced 11 new flights designed specifically for snowbirds seeking a winter escape.
Recent data shows Canadians have been retreating from U.S. vacations, with a 30.7% decrease in return trips from the U.S. by car and an 18.7% drop in air travel noted in late 2025. Anita Emilio, general manager of Flight Centre Canada, indicated that interest in U.S. destinations had diminished by 40% in 2025, as travelers increasingly choose European and Latin American locales instead.
With enhanced flight options and growing interest in Latin American countries, the trend towards exploring these sun-soaked destinations appears robust. Furthermore, other airlines like Frontier and Flair are also joining this movement by launching direct flights to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Jamaica, respectively.
While the future of the Canadian-U.S. travel boycott remains uncertain, the optimistic expansion of direct routes to Latin America signals a new chapter for Canadian travelers, providing them with more choices and the potential for enriching experiences in vibrant locales.