Canadian travellers heading south this winter have three more nonstop options from Montreal. Air Transat has added Aruba, Barbados and Los Cabos to its Winter 2026-27 schedule, with the first flights starting in the second week of December. The routes were reported on April 27, 2026, so this is not breaking news, but with the season now close it is a useful time to see what is actually on offer. This post summarises the published schedule and what to check before you book.
The three new routes
All three routes depart from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. The published details are:
- Montreal to Los Cabos: once weekly, starting December 10.
- Montreal to Aruba: once weekly, starting December 12.
- Montreal to Barbados: twice weekly, starting December 13.
The report gives the start dates without a year, and the headline places them in the Winter 2026-27 schedule, so these refer to December 2026. It does not name the aircraft type for the routes. Transat’s chief revenue officer, Sebastian Ponce, was quoted as saying that demand for sun destinations remains strong and that the three new routes allow the airline to meet it.
Why it matters for Montreal travellers
Montreal already has direct links to popular winter destinations such as Cancun and Punta Cana. Adding Aruba, Barbados and Los Cabos broadens the choice, particularly for destinations that previously required a connection. A once-weekly flight is a limited option, because it fixes your stay to multiples of seven days unless you pay extra to fly on other days. A twice-weekly flight offers a little more flexibility. If you want to choose your length of stay, check which days the flights run before you commit to a resort booking.
How to match the flight to the stay
A weekly schedule shapes the whole trip. If the Aruba flight leaves Montreal on a Saturday, for example, your week is probably Saturday to Saturday, and resort check-in and check-out dates should line up with it. Many resorts price by the night and some have minimum stays at peak times such as the Christmas and new year period, so confirm both the flight day and the resort rules before you pay for either. If your dates do not match, ask whether the resort can hold a luggage room for a late flight, or whether an early check-in is available on arrival. Our guide to check-out times and what happens on departure day explains what to expect on the last day.
What each destination offers
Aruba is a compact, dry island with a strong beach reputation and a steady resort sector. Barbados offers a Caribbean-Atlantic mix, with calmer waters on the west coast and rougher surf on the east. Los Cabos is a desert and ocean destination on the tip of Baja California, known for resorts, whale watching in season and sport fishing. Our guides to Aruba and the Bahamas for an all-inclusive and Cabo and Cancun for an all-inclusive compare the options, and our pages on all-inclusive resorts in Aruba and all-inclusive resorts in Los Cabos list the resorts we track.
Hurricane and weather considerations
December is outside the main Atlantic hurricane window, which makes the timing attractive. Even so, weather can interrupt flights at any time of year. Our post on how hurricane season affects a Caribbean or Mexico resort trip explains the calendar, and December sits at the quiet end.
What to check before you book
- Confirm the schedule on the airline’s own booking page, since the report dates from April and schedules change.
- Check baggage allowances and whether fares are for seat only or include meals and bags.
- Compare package prices against flight-only prices, since packages can include transfers and resort credit.
- Check the entry rules for your destination and your passport. Each country sets its own.
- Read the change and cancellation conditions, and consider insurance. Our post on what travel insurance actually covers on an all-inclusive resort trip sets out what is usually included.
What we do not know
The report does not publish fares, aircraft or end dates for the seasonal service. We have not seen current prices, and we do not know how full the flights are. A once-weekly route can sell out quickly on peak holiday weeks, particularly around Christmas and the new year, so early booking is usually wiser than waiting for a late deal. That said, we cannot predict price movements, and nothing in the report suggests that fares will fall.
Source
This post is based on The Bulkhead Seat’s report of April 27, 2026. Check the airline’s website for the current schedule before you plan.