Star Alliance carrier Brussels Airlines is to open a new transatlantic service to the Canadian city of Montreal next year, but will axe its link to Toronto.

The Toronto-Brussels connection, however, will be picked up by Star Alliance partner Air Canada.

Brussels Airlines says it will start operating the Montreal route five times weekly beginning 29 March.

It is to discontinue the Toronto service from 7 January, adding that passengers booked on the connection will be rerouted on alternative flights.

Air Canada says it will commence a Toronto-Brussels service from 1 May 2020, with up to five weekly flights on three-class Boeing 787-8s.

Brussels Airlines' additional aircraft capacity over the winter season will enable the airline to offer a year-round service to Washington DC – currently a summer route – from 20 February.

The Belgian carrier says Montreal is the "most important market" in Canada from Belgium.

It will operate the new connection with Airbus A330-300s, configured with a three-class cabin including a premium-economy section.

Air Canada already serves the Montreal-Brussels route, as does Air Transat – a carrier being acquired by Air Canada.

Brussels Airlines says the extended Washington service will be offered daily in the summer and four times weekly in winter.

Source: FlightGlobal.com