Air Transat buys Canadian Affair
Specialist operator Canadian Affair has been taken over by Air Transat for £20.4 million.
The deal brings the Canadian carrier into the UK tour operating arena while at the same time securing seat sales for its flights to Canada. The airline offers 200,000 return seats between the UK and Canada a year.
The agreement has been made between the airline’s parent Transat AT and The Airline Seat Company which trades under the Canadian Affair brand.
Anette Rayner, the operator’s managing director and one of two founders of the business established in 1995, is to reamin in place together with TASC’s senior managemnt team and workforce, according to Transat.
London-based TASC claims annual sales of £75 million as one of the largest oeprators in the UK-Canada market, serving seven Canadian destinations. It has an office in Glasgow and more than 60 staff.
Transat president and CEO Jean-Marc Eustache said: “Transat, which already sells a significant number of seats between Canada and the UK, this becomes a tour operator in Canada’s largest tourism market in Europe.
“This acquisition squares perfectly with the strategic plan we adopted in 2005 that states our intention to expand the scope of Transat as an outgoing tour operator in Europe, building on our already significant position in France.”
Rayner said: “Our clients will be the first to benefit from our alliance with a major player in the international tourism market.”
Montreal-based Transat operates direct flights from eight UK airports as well as Dublin and Shannon in Ireland.
Phil Davies
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