On an overnight flight to Lisbon from Toronto, the Air Transat A330 cabin hums with the busy rhythms of boarding. Passengers are stowing bags and adjusting armrests, settling in for the transatlantic journey to Portugal. Moving through the aisles, five flight attendants welcome travelers and complete their pre-flight checks—looking every bit like the seasoned crew they are. Yet in the galleys, there’s an extra spark of excitement in the air. Unbeknownst to the passengers, this routine departure is about to turn into a celebration 35 years in the making.
Then, flight director Elaine Coles picks up the handset.
“Before we settle in for the journey, we’d like to take a moment to share something truly special with you. This flight marks a meaningful milestone. Five of our flight attendants are celebrating 35 years of service, on this day exactly. Their journey began together as Air Transat Class number 23 in 1991.”
As the names echo through the cabin—Yolanda, Nathalie, Diane, Donna, Lorena—applause breaks out across the rows. On this flight, five members of that very same 1991 class are working side by side, wearing their Air Transat stars with ongoing pride.
Watch the heartwarming moment on board as the crew celebrates 35 years together on the way to Lisbon.
“It was only supposed to be a summer job…”
Ask the Class of 1991 how they landed at Air Transat, and you’ll find a surprising trend: none of them expected to stay for three and a half decades.
“It was supposed to be a summer job, but I had so much fun that summer that I decided to keep it full-time,” Yolanda smiles. “And here I am, 35 years later.”
For Diane, landing the job was pure serendipity. “My career was a fluke!” she laughs. Wanting to forge her own path rather than join her family’s business, she spotted an opportunity in the newspaper. “Back in the day the ad was in print, and not online. I thought it was a great fit for me because I wanted to use my French and the position required to be bilingual. I went to the interview—all in French—and the rest is history. Best move of my life!”
Donna’s entry into aviation was just as unplanned. After the airline she worked for went under, she figured she’d give flying one more summer, this time with Air Transat. That initial decision introduced her to crewmates Lorena, Nathalie, Yolanda, and Diane. Over the years, Donna tried stepping away—she even spent a year studying to be a teacher in France (“immediately no, did not like that!”) and later earned a Master’s degree in Business. But the cabin kept calling her back.
“I just couldn’t give up this job, it means too much to me,” Donna says. “Once you get aviation fuel in your veins, it’s hard to get it out.”
35 years later, that curiosity to explore hasn’t worn off. The crew is still buzzing about upcoming routes and new adventures:
- Nathalie can’t wait to operate the Toronto–Albania route
- Yolanda is flexible—sas long as there’s sunshine (“Anywhere hot, sunny, and fun, I’m in!”)
- Lorena is always excited about a London bid, as it’s her absolute favorite city in the world
- Diane is looking forward to escaping the cold and exploring Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands this winter
- Donna already has her eye on an upcoming Toronto–Istanbul layover in just a few weeks
Authenticy that passengers can feel
Needless to say, a lot has changed in 35 years.
Aircraft are non-smoking now, for starters!
Paper tickets have turned into digital boarding passes.
And seatback screens have replaced shared monitors.
But for the Class of 1991, the real secret to staying in the sky for three and a half decades is the bond on board.
“What hasn’t changed for me is the feeling of togetherness,” Yolanda says. “It feels like we’re working with friends. Sometimes we even coordinate our bidding to travel to Europe together for a girls’ getaway!”
Her layover routine has stayed remarkably consistent over the years. “My favorite layovers are always the ones where I get to start a group chat, get a coffee, and enjoy a great dinner with coworkers who turned into close friends. Kind of like what we’re about to do in Lisbon!”
“And the passengers can sense that familiarity,” Donna chimes in, wiping away a tear as she reflects on the decades. Nathalie wipes away a tear as well, laughing at her own reaction: “Lorena told us no crying today! But the camaraderie here is just unmatched. It’s what kept me coming back.”
Spending 35 years flying the world also brings a unique, grounded perspective on human connection.
“You know, working with the public isn’t always easy. But something I’ve learned along the way is that everybody has a story,” Diane shares thoughtfully. “You never know what someone is carrying with them or what’s going on in their life. It’s important to treat people with respect and kindness.”
Donna agrees, noting how a close crew directly influences the passenger experience:
“It trickles down to how we approach passengers. That genuine warmth isn’t something you can script or train; it’s an integral part of the Air Transat DNA. When you feel cared for as a crew, you naturally pass that on to the people sitting in your cabin.”
Literally finding family at Air Transat
That sense of family doesn’t end when the flight lands.
For Donna, Air Transat is quite literally where her family began: she met her husband here—he works on the maintenance team—and they have been married for 30 years, raising two sons together.
“My husband travels with me on some of my layovers, and sometimes we take our boys along too,” she shares. “Being a flight attendant is such a great opportunity for our family because you don’t really get to do that in most jobs. They actually just took me to Venice for Mother’s Day!”
While she loves exploring new corners of the world with her family, one destination holds a permanent place in her heart. “Paris is my absolute favorite because I have such fond memories there,” she says. “That’s where my husband and I dated a lot back in the day, when I was working those flights all the time. There are definitely worse places to date!”
“Did you know my sister is an Air Transat flight attendant, too?” Yolanda smiles. “She’s in her 34th year of service, just one year behind me. We actually try to bid for the same flights so we can work together at least once a month.”
Flying the star forward
“So much has changed in 35 years in the aviation industry,” Donna reflects as the plane prepares for landing. “But what hasn’t changed is Air Transat’s commitment to its people. I’ve always felt seen and supported through every stage of life, and I’ve never taken that for granted.”
Lorena smiles, emphasizing just how deep those roots run. “We’ve been close since day one,” Lorena says. “We’ve lived through so many life obstacles, highs, and lows—we really grew up together.”
When the doors open and the last passengers step off into the Portuguese morning air, the Class of 1991 doesn’t say goodbye. They grab their bags, step out of the airport together, head off to find coffee, start the group chat, and plan their next meal as lifelong friends.
