Canadian carrier Air Transat will return to the Athens International Airport with seasonal direct flights connecting the Greek capital with Montreal and Toronto, with the period covered commencing this month until October 2022.

Direct flights from Canada to Athens will launch on April 2, said the Greek Tourism Ministry on Wednesday following a meeting between Minister Vassilis Kikilias and Canadian Ambassador Mark Allen.

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Italian authorities called on Greece to assist in the search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate a Canadian helicopter that is missing west of Kefalonia, in an area where Rome’s FIR is joining the Athens FIR.