Find Air Transat Birmingham to Toronto: Direct Flights

This guide covers the timetable, flight times, what you get on board, baggage costs, what to do when you land, and how to book. It's all here, so you won't need to piece it together from five different websites.

Air Transat Birmingham to Toronto Overview

Here are the key facts in one place.

Is there a direct flight from Birmingham to Toronto?

Yes, from June 2027. Air Transat is the only airline flying direct from Birmingham to Toronto, and it's the first nonstop link between the two cities in years. Air Transat says it's a brand new destination for the airline, although the route tracking site AeroRoutes reports that Air Transat last flew Toronto to Birmingham back in 2017.

You may still see booking sites like Skyscanner and Priceline saying there are no direct flights from Birmingham to Toronto. That was true until this announcement, and those pages simply haven't caught up yet.

The demand is clearly there. According to Birmingham Airport, around 10,000 passengers travelled between Birmingham and Toronto indirectly in 2025, mostly holidaymakers and people visiting family.

The 2027 timetable

The Air Transat Birmingham to Toronto service runs twice a week in each direction for the whole summer season.

All times are local. Air Transat has said the schedule is still subject to final confirmation, so check your times again a few weeks before you fly.

When do the flights start and finish?

The first flight leaves Birmingham on Wednesday 23 June 2027. The first flight from Toronto leaves the day before, on Tuesday 22 June. The last flight from Toronto is on Friday 22 October, and the last one from Birmingham is on Saturday 23 October 2027.

Which days does Air Transat fly from Birmingham?

Wednesdays and Saturdays. Because the return flights run on Tuesdays and Fridays and land the next morning, the trip lengths available are 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16 or 17 nights in Canada. For example, fly out on a Saturday and come back on the Friday flight 13 nights later, landing in Birmingham on Saturday morning.

How long is the flight from Birmingham to Toronto?

The direct flight from Birmingham to Toronto takes about 8 hours and 5 minutes. The return is quicker, at about 7 hours and 5 minutes, because of the tailwinds across the Atlantic.

That's a big saving. Connecting flights on booking sites usually take at least 13 hours door to door, and many take well over 20 hours with two changes.

Time difference and jet lag

Toronto is 5 hours behind the UK in summer. So when you leave Birmingham at 8am, it's 3am in Toronto. You land at 11:10am Toronto time, which gives you the whole afternoon to check in to your hotel and get some fresh air. Try to stay awake until at least 9pm local time on the first night, and you'll usually adjust within a day or two.

The flight home is overnight. You leave Toronto at 6:30pm and land in Birmingham at 6:35am. Eat dinner on board, then try to sleep straight after. An eye mask and neck pillow make a real difference on a single-aisle plane.

What it's like flying Air Transat

Air Transat is a Montreal-based holiday airline that has been flying since 1987, and it was voted the 2026 World's Best Leisure Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. That's the eighth time it has won the title.

On the Birmingham route, Air Transat uses the Airbus A321LR. It's a newer, single-aisle plane built for long flights, with 199 seats in two cabins. It's smaller than the wide-body jets you might be used to on transatlantic trips, so the cabin feels more like a large holiday flight than a jumbo jet.

Economy Class

There are 187 Economy seats, laid out three on each side of the aisle. Each seat has 31 inches of legroom, which is standard for long-haul economy, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen in the seatback with films, TV shows and music. You'll also find USB charging ports.

Meals are included in the price of every ticket on this route. If you want more legroom without paying for Club Class, look at row 16. Seats 16A and 16K are by the overwing exit, so you get extra space and a window.

Club Class

Club Class is Air Transat's premium cabin. There are only 12 seats, in rows 1 to 3, laid out two on each side. Here's what you get compared with Economy.

Club Class seats don't turn into flat beds. Think of them as a big, comfy armchair, closer to premium economy on other airlines than full business class. Club tickets also don't include airport lounge access.

If you're flying Economy and fancy a treat, Air Transat lets you bid for a Club Class upgrade up to 26 hours before departure. On the overnight flight home, it can be well worth it.

Air Transat baggage allowance and costs

Every passenger can take one carry-on bag and one small personal item on board. Whether a checked bag is included depends on which fare you buy.

Cabin bag sizes

• Carry-on bag up to 23 x 40 x 51 cm, including wheels and handles. You must be able to lift it into the overhead locker yourself.

• Personal items such as a handbag or laptop bag, up to 12.7 x 30.5 x 43.2 cm. This goes under the seat in front.

Checked bag prices

Each checked bag can weigh up to 23 kg, and the length, width and height added together can't be more than 158 cm.

These are the UK prices listed by Canadian Affair, Air Transat's UK sister company. Adding bags online before you fly is always cheaper than paying at the desk.

Which fare should you pick?

• Eco Budget is the cheapest ticket. No checked bag, and you can't change or cancel it. Good for short trips with hand luggage only.

• Eco Standard includes one 23 kg bag and free standard seat selection. You can change or cancel for a fee. This is the best choice for most holidays.

• Eco Flex includes two checked bags, free changes and cancellations, and priority check-in. Worth it if your dates might move or you're visiting family with gifts to carry.

• Option Plus is an add-on for any Economy fare. It gives you one extra 23 kg bag, free standard seat selection and priority services.

Travelling with children? Each child can take one pushchair and one car seat or booster seat for free, on top of their normal allowance.

Why fly from Birmingham instead of London or Manchester?

If you live in the Midlands, flying from Birmingham saves you time, money and a lot of hassle. Heathrow is about 2 hours' drive from Birmingham on a good day, and Manchester is about 1 hour 45 minutes. Add parking or an airport hotel the night before, and the cheaper London fare often isn't cheaper at all.

Birmingham Airport is easy to reach from Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Worcester. For a lot of people that means less than an hour from your front door to the terminal.

The morning departure helps too. You can leave home after breakfast, fly at 8:05am and be in Toronto in time for a late lunch.

What to do once you land in Toronto

Toronto is Canada's biggest city, and it's easy to get around. Air Transat flights arrive at Toronto Pearson, Terminal 3. Take the free Terminal Link train to Terminal 1, then hop on the UP Express to Union Station in the centre of the city. It takes about 25 minutes, runs every 15 minutes, and costs CA$12.35 for an adult one way. Children under 12 ride for free.

Top things to do in Toronto

• CN Tower. At 553 metres, this is the city's best-known landmark. Go up to the glass floor for the view straight down, or book the EdgeWalk if you want to walk around the outside of the tower, harnessed in, 356 metres up.

• St. Lawrence Market. A huge food hall in a 19th-century building near the waterfront. Try a peameal bacon sandwich, the city's famous local snack, and browse stalls selling Canadian cheeses, maple syrup and fresh seafood.

• Distillery District. Cobbled streets lined with Victorian brick buildings that used to be a whisky distillery. Today it's full of independent galleries, craft shops, a chocolate maker and Balzac's Coffee, set in an old pump house.

• Kensington Market. Toronto's most colourful neighbourhood, with vintage clothing shops, record stores, Latin American bakeries, Jamaican patty shops and small coffee roasters. It's great for a wander on a sunny afternoon.

• Toronto Islands. A 15-minute ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal takes you to car-free islands with beaches, bike hire and the Centreville amusement park for kids. The view of the skyline from the islands is one of the best in the city.

• Royal Ontario Museum. One of the largest museums in North America, with dinosaur skeletons, First Nations art and a huge crystal-shaped extension you can't miss.

• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. Right next to the CN Tower, with a moving walkway through an underwater tunnel full of sharks and rays.

Day trip to Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is about 130 km from Toronto, around an hour and a half by car. Most people combine a boat trip to the base of the Horseshoe Falls with a visit to the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake, a pretty 19th-century town about 20 minutes further on. Coach tours run from downtown Toronto every day in summer if you'd rather not drive.

Connecting flights across Canada

Toronto doesn't have to be the end of your trip. Through Air Transat's partnership with Porter Airlines, you can connect from Toronto to cities including Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton. That makes it easy to combine Toronto and Niagara with the Rocky Mountains or a city break in Montreal.

Best time to visit Toronto on this route

The Air Transat Birmingham to Toronto route runs from late June to late October, which happens to be the best time of year to visit. Summers are warm and sunny, and autumn brings the famous red and gold leaves.

Big events in 2027

• Canada Day, 1 July. Free concerts, street parties and fireworks across the city.

• Toronto Caribbean Carnival. One of the biggest Caribbean festivals in North America. The Grand Parade is held on the Saturday of Canada's August long weekend.

• Canadian National Exhibition (the CNE or "the Ex"). Canada's biggest annual fair, with rides, food stalls, concerts and an air show. It runs for 18 days and finishes on Labour Day, which is Monday 6 September in 2027.

• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Hundreds of films and red-carpet premieres every September. In 2026 it ran from 10 to 20 September. The 2027 dates haven't been announced yet.

If you want the hottest weather and the most going on, go in July or August. If you'd prefer cooler days and autumn colours, go in late September or October. Just avoid the TIFF dates in September if you're on a budget, as central hotels get booked up.

What you need to travel to Canada from the UK

British citizens don't need a visa to visit Canada for a holiday, but you do need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before you board your flight. Without one, the airline won't let you fly.

• Cost. CA$7 per person, which is about £4.

• How long it lasts. Up to 5 years, or until your passport runs out, whichever comes first.

• How long you can stay. Up to 6 months per visit.

• How long it takes. Most applications are approved within a few minutes.

• Where to apply. Only on the official Government of Canada website at canada.ca/eTA.

Watch out for copycat websites that look official but charge many times more for the same thing. If you're paying more than CA$7, you're on the wrong site. Apply as soon as you book, and make sure the passport number on your eTA matches the passport you'll travel with.

Visiting from Canada?

If you're Canadian and flying the other way to see family in the Midlands, you'll need a UK ETA. It costs £20, lasts for 2 years, and you apply through the official UK ETA app or on GOV.UK. British and Irish passport holders, including dual citizens, don't need one.

Getting to Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport sits right next to the M42 at junction 6, about 7 miles east of Birmingham city centre.

• By train. Birmingham International station is linked to the terminal by the free Air-Rail Link shuttle. Trains from Birmingham New Street take about 10 minutes, and there are direct trains from London Euston, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Manchester.

• By car. Leave the M42 at junction 6 and follow the signs. Book your parking online before you travel, as it's much cheaper than turning up on the day.

• What time to arrive. With an 08:05 departure, aim to be at the airport by 05:05, three hours before your flight. Check your booking for the exact time check-in closes.

If you live further away, staying at one of the hotels on the airport or next door at the NEC the night before takes the stress out of the early start.

How to book Air Transat Birmingham to Toronto flights with Oceans Travel

Booking early gives you the best choice of dates, seats and fares.

Since 2007, Oceans Travel is a travel agency based in the UK. When you book with us, you get a real person to talk to, not just a website. Our team can help you with:

• Choosing the right fare, so you don't pay for bags you don't need or miss out on ones you do

• Booking connecting flights across Canada with Porter Airlines

• Adding hotels in Toronto or Niagara Falls

• Seat selection, special assistance and travelling with children

• Changes and cancellations if your plans move

Our customers rate us 4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with every review giving us 5 stars. We hold ATOL License Number 11705, issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This means that you can book with confidence and with trust knowing that your money is safe and sound, and your trip is protected.

Ready to book? Contact us at 0330 818 1234 or email info@oceanstravel.co.uk.
Check Birmingham to Toronto fares with Oceans Travel.

Conclusion

Air Transat Birmingham to Toronto flights make Canada easier to reach from the Midlands than it's been in years. The key things to remember are simple. It's direct, it starts on 23 June 2027, and it runs twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays until 23 October.

With only around 400 seats a week from Birmingham, the best dates will go early. If you're planning a summer holiday or a family visit to Canada in 2027, now is the time to book.

Speak to the Oceans Travel team today on 0330 818 1234 for the latest Air Transat fares from Birmingham to Toronto.