Agents signing up will benefit from fare parity with existing web-only fares and an increased booking window, with the ability to reserve 18 months in advance.

Adrian Keating, the airline’s commercial director, UK and Ireland, said: “The launch of our new trade portal diversifies our distribution, enabling us to offer the travel trade more choice in how they want to work with us. The portal will also deliver cost savings that we can then reinvest into our commercial agreements.”

Other advantages include access to all ancillary items and a firm commercial agreement with the airline. 

Air Transat’s platform is designed for Canadian specialists and small- to medium-sized agencies.
 
Keating added: “We engaged with three Canadian specialist agents in a pre-launch test period, and their feedback has been valuable in ensuring the portal was built to cater for their requirements, with a seamless user experience and all of the content they need to serve their customers.”

However, he added: “We recognise the portal won’t be for everyone. Some of our larger agent partners will wish to maintain their existing distribution arrangements, but they will still benefit from a more lucrative commercial deal because of the savings the portal brings us. So the introduction of the portal is a positive development for all of our partners.”
 
Agents interested in using the new portal can email SalesSupportUK@transat.com.