Porter Airlines starts nonstop routes connecting Montréal and California

Porter Airlines is launching two new seasonal, nonstop routes connecting Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) with Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

The YUL-LAX route offers four-times-weekly service beginning June 27, while the YUL-SFO route operates three-times weekly starting June 28.

The seasonal routes run until October 26, providing travellers with seamless connections between Eastern Canada and the Golden State’s vibrant west coast.

Passengers on these new routes will enjoy Porter's signature service, which includes complimentary premium snacks, free beer and wine served in glassware, and free, fast WiFi for all passengers. Fresh, healthy meals are also available on an all-inclusive basis with PorterReserve fares or can be purchased à la carte for those travelling in PorterClassic.

The flights are operated by the state-of-the-art 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, configured two-by-two which means no middle seats on any Porter flight. The E195-E2 is the most environmentally-friendly single-aisle aircraft, 65% quieter and up to 25% more fuel-efficient than previous-generation technology.

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The flight schedule is as follows:

Route	Service begins	Departure	Arrival
YUL-LAX (Mon., Wed., Thurs., Sat.)	June 27	7:40 p.m.	10:36 p.m.
LAX-YUL (Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sun.)	June 28	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.
YUL-SFO (Tues., Fri., Sun.)	June 28	8:00 p.m.	11:12 p.m.
SFO-YUL (Mon., Wed., Sat.)	June 29	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.

All times are local.

The routes connect to Halifax, Toronto-Pearson and Toronto-City through Montréal-Trudeau, complementing existing daily non-stop service between Toronto-Pearson with both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Porter's joint venture partnership with Air Transat also facilitates convenient connections from YUL throughout Europe, including destinations such as Paris, London, Amsterdam and Marseille. Additionally, passengers flying into Los Angeles and San Francisco can connect to Alaska Airlines, accessing their broad U.S. West Coast network.

Kevin Jackson, president, Porter Airlines said: “These new routes open up exciting travel opportunities for our passengers. With our enhanced service offerings and strategic partnerships, we are committed to delivering an elevated travel experience across North America and beyond.”

Doug Webster, Interim Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer, Los Angeles World Airports commented: “ADM Aéroports de Montréal welcomes the addition of San Francisco and Los Angeles to Porter’s list of destinations. These new direct routes enhance the offering from Montréal and represent a great opportunity to develop air service to the United States. Whether for leisure or business, as a final destination or to connect to other cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco offer a range of possibilities, and these connections confirm once again the positioning of YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport as an international hub. Thank you to Porter for providing passengers with additional options that benefit our entire community!”

Porter Airlines is North America’s Best Regional Airline........

Porter Airlines was selected as Best Regional Airline in North America at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

The category includes airlines that primarily or exclusively fly within North America. Over 100 countries participate in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to select the award winners. This year’s presentation ceremony was held in London, England.

“Porter has redefined air travel for 17 years. As our network quickly expands across North America, we are offering economy travellers an overall experience they will not find with any other carrier, like free beer and wine served in glassware, a selection of free premium snacks, high-quality fresh meal options, plus free streaming WiFi for all passengers,” said Michael Deluce, CEO, Porter Airlines. “We also understand that a quality product must be accompanied by the highest level of service and genuine hospitality. This prestigious award speaks to the unwavering commitment from our team members to provide this for all of our passengers.”

Porter continues to challenge the definition of economy air travel across North America by emphasizing an overall elevated economy experience on board. This includes a two-by-two configuration on every aircraft, ensuring no middle seats on any flight. The distinct regional service that Porter has developed since 2006 is the foundation for this standard in a network that now stretches across North America.

In the past 18 months, the airline has:

Hired more than 2,000 new team members

Taken delivery of 35 new Embraer E195-E2s

Total fleet size of 64, including 29 Dash 8-400 aircraft

Announced dozens of new routes and 20 new destinations

The airline now flies as far west as Victoria and as far east as St. John’s in Canada. It is also making further headway into the U.S., currently with five destinations in Florida, as well as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. Phoenix will also launch this winter.

“We congratulate Porter Airlines on this great achievement in being named the Best Regional Airline in North America at the 2024 Awards. This global region is a very competitive market, and Porter Airlines success demonstrates the success of their product that is so well supported by excellent staff service,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO, Skytrax.

Skytrax introduced the category for Best Regional Airline in North America in 2014. Porter is also one of only three carriers in North America to qualify for Skytrax’s Official 4-Star Rating, recognizing airlines that deliver overall quality performance.

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Porter Airlines doubles capacity on Los Angeles and Las Vegas Routes

Porter Airlines is responding to strong demand for its service by doubling capacity on two key routes from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), with additional flexibility now available between YYZ and Los Angeles (LAX) and Las Vegas (LAS). The new schedules come into effect on August 29 for Las Vegas, and September 5 for Los Angeles. This provides passengers with more options to plan their travel, including connecting flight itineraries.

Both routes are served by the brand new Embraer E195-E2. The 132-seat aircraft offers 2-by-2 seating, which means no middle seats for any passengers flying Porter, with fast and free WiFi included for everyone.

There are additional connections available on these routes through Porter and its airline partners. Alaska Airlines offers onward travel across the Western U.S. via LAS and LAX, while Porter’s extensive Eastern Canada network and Air Transat’s many European markets serve eastbound passengers from YYZ.

“Porter has seen tremendous demand for these routes since they were launched earlier this year, and we’re committed to providing our passengers with options to personalize their travel experience,” said Edmond Eldebs, senior vice president and chief commercial officer, Porter Airlines. “Our commitment to providing a superior economy product on every flight is resonating with passengers, who are telling us they love the Porter experience.”

Travelling with Porter means an elevated economy experience that no other North American airline can offer, with no middle seats, free premium snacks and complimentary beer and wine.

Passengers travelling in all-inclusive PorterReserve enjoy fresh, healthy meals, pre-mixed cocktails and dedicated airport check-in, early boarding, enhanced legroom, two checked bags and the ability to change flights without a fee. These options are available à la carte with PorterClassic fares.

Route	Departure	Arrival
Toronto-Pearson - Los Angeles	9:40 a.m.   12:45 p.m.*	12:03 p.m.   3:08 p.m.*
Los Angeles - Toronto-Pearson	1:30 p.m.   4:10 p.m.*	9:16 p.m.   11:56 p.m.*
Toronto-Pearson - Las Vegas	1:30 p.m.   8:40 p.m.*	3:22 p.m.   10:44 p.m.*
Las Vegas - Toronto-Pearson	4:20 p.m.   11:55 p.m.*	11:40 p.m.   7:10 a.m. (next day)*

All times are local. * Signifies new service.

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Porter starts another new route..............Ottawa - St. John’s

Porter Airlines is inaugurating service between Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and St. John’s International Airport (YYT), becoming the only airline to connect the two destinations with non-stop flights.

The new route starts with daily service on the brand new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which carries up to 132 passengers. With a two-by-two configuration and no middle seats, the toughest choice for anyone flying Porter is choosing between a window or an aisle seat.

Free and fast WiFi on all E195-E2 flights helps keep passengers connected in the air, while complimentary premium snacks paired with free beer and wine, served in glassware, ensures that everyone who flies Porter can actually enjoy economy.

PorterReserve passengers enjoy extra legroom and priority boarding on all flights, and fresh, healthy meals on longer flights - all available à la carte to PorterClassic passengers.

Ottawa is a Porter hub, offering passengers flights to over a dozen destinations in Canada and the U.S. This includes regional centres like Fredericton and Thunder Bay, Western Canada cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, and locations in the United States like Orlando, Boston and New York.

Air Transat and Porter Airlines expand their commercial collaboration

Travellers can book standalone segments with each airline and access a broader network of destinations.

Air Transat and Porter Airlines are launching the first phase of their transformative joint venture. Travellers can now use each partner's distribution channels to book direct and connecting flights with either Air Transat or Porter, therefore significantly increasing their access to a wide and expanding range of destinations around the world.

In practical terms, this means that Air Transat now offers an extensive range of destinations operated by Porter across Canada—from St. Johns to Victoria—and select U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Tampa and Washington through airtransat.com. Porter now provides non-stop flights operated by Air Transat to Europe from Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) and Québec City (YQB), as well as connecting flights to Europe from anywhere in Canada on flyporter.com.

“Our alliance is enhancing the travel experience by seamlessly integrating our services across North and Latin America, as well as Europe and North Africa. By leveraging the strengths of our highly complementary networks, we are committed to delivering more choice to Canadians with a high-quality service,” said Sebastian Ponce, Chief Revenue Officer at Transat.

Porter starts Halifax - Deer Lake service

The Canadian regional carrier, Porter has introduced a new service linking Halifax and Deer Lake which will be served by the 78-seat De Havilland / Bombardier Dash 8-400. 

A gateway to Gros Morne National Park in Western Newfoundland, Deer Lake provides access to some of Canada’s most iconic attractions. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a landscape formed by glaciers and seismic activity millions of years ago. Contrasting lush fjords and barren red earth represent the best of natural extremes. Whether it’s climbing to the highest mountain peak in Newfoundland, or driving the scenic Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, Deer Lake and Halifax are ideal destinations for summer travel.

Dash 8-400s feature a seating configuration of two-by-two, meaning there are no middle seats and all Porter flights offer free premium snacks and complimentary beer and wine for every passenger. Passengers in PorterReserve passengers also enjoy extra legroom, priority check-in and boarding, and ticketing flexibility on all flights.

Kevin Jackson, president, of Porter Airlines said: “Increasing air connectivity in these communities creates more choice for travellers and greatly supports tourism. With Porter’s new service, outdoor enthusiasts can explore the beauty of the East Coast.”

Tammy Priddle, president and chief executive officer, Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority commented:  “Air Access is vital for our region’s economic growth and development, quality of life and overall well-being. Porter Airlines inaugural flight into Halifax Stanfield provides opportunity to not only connect for business and leisure in Nova Scotia but allows access into Porter’s growing national network including Ottawa, Toronto Pearson, Toronto Island and beyond.”

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Toronto's Porter increases jet routes with a service between Toronto-Pearson and Phoenix

The Toronto-based Canadian regional carrier, Porter Airlines is introducing a new daily, round-trip service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport from 3rd October.

The new route marks Porter’s first arrival in Arizona, providing a direct link between Canada’s largest city and the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix is a favourite Canadian getaway, featuring the desert’s outdoor wonders, world-famous resorts, and extensive food and arts scenes. Toronto is a global destination for business, sports and seemingly endless multicultural culinary options.

The route is served by the state-of-the-art Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, providing passengers with an unparalleled experience. Passengers can enjoy Porter's elevated economy service with no middle seats, complimentary wine and beer served in glassware, free premium snacks, and free, fast WiFi.

Connections are also available to and from Montréal, Ottawa and Halifax through Porter’s hub at Toronto-Pearson.

Porter Launches Service Between Montréal and Calgary

Porter Airlines is inaugurating its second Alberta route from Montréal, with daily roundtrip service between Calgary International Airport (YYC) and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).

Connecting the largest cities of Alberta and Québec, the new route is served by the 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. All passengers will enjoy Porter’s generous hospitality and elevated economy experience. Porter is the only airline on this route promising free, fast WiFi, no middle seats, and free beer and wine served in glassware.

Priority check-in, ticketing flexibility, extra legroom seats, fresh, healthy meals and premium pre-mixed cocktails are part of the all-inclusive PorterReserve fares, and available à la carte with PorterClassic fares.

Through Porter’s partnership with Air Transat, passengers can connect seamlessly to their extensive transatlantic network out of Montréal-Trudeau, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and Rome.

The new Montréal-Calgary service complements existing Porter’s daily flights connecting Calgary with Toronto-Pearson and Ottawa.

The flight schedule is as follows:

Route	Departure	Arrival
Montréal-Trudeau - Calgary   Calgary - Montréal-Trudeau	6:20 p.m.   9:30 a.m.	9:05 p.m.   3:32 p.m.

All times are local

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Porter and Ottawa Airport Celebrate Grand Opening of Aircraft Maintenance Base

Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. (PAHI), parent company of Porter Airlines, and the Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA) are celebrating the grand opening of Porter’s YOW aircraft hangars and maintenance base. 

The two aircraft hangars are approximately 150,000 sq. ft. in combined size, supporting the maintenance of Porter’s growing Embraer E195-E2 fleet and existing De Havilland Dash 8-400s. The airline has up to 100 E195-E2s on order, with 33 currently in service. The Dash 8-400 fleet totals 29 aircraft.

OIAA has constructed a new taxiway and related infrastructure to support the hangar development. The growth at the airport represents a combined $125 million investment in YOW’s future.

YOW will be a primary maintenance base for Porter, with 200 local team members being hired to support its operation. This includes 160 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs), plus shop technicians, stores clerks and administrative support. These represent highly-skilled roles that will be based in the city. To support this endeavor, Porter and Algonquin College are establishing a long-term strategic partnership to enhance work-integrated learning opportunities across all areas of the business, and to support program development and training, with specific activities taking place at the Ottawa hangars. Notable programs at Algonquin College include Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Aviation Management. These initiatives are designed to align with the growing needs of the aviation industry and demonstrate the shared commitment to the future of aviation professionals.

Ottawa is Porter’s fastest-growing market outside of Toronto, feeding into the airline’s strong Eastern Canada network and its growing western markets. This summer, Porter will offer more daily flights from YOW than any other carrier, with 16 non-stop routes and approximately two million passengers travelling through YOW in 2024. By the end of this year, Porter expects to employ more than 400 team members in Ottawa, representing customer service, pilots, flight attendants and maintenance.

OIAA invested $15 million constructing Taxiway Romeo in the airport’s north field area. This represents the first airside expansion project in the OIAA’s 20-year history. It accommodates Porter’s hangar development, as well as future federal government needs, and other commercial aviation-related development.

Michael Deluce, CEO, PAHI said:  “The investments we are making in the new aircraft hangars and local hiring are foundational to Porter’s future in Ottawa. Porter’s presence at YOW has grown significantly in the past year, with new non-stop routes using both our E195s and Dash 8s, and plans to add an E195-E2 crew base at the airport. Our partnership with Algonquin College is extremely valuable for both organizations, providing us with access to local talent and giving students career opportunities that are close to home. We are meaningfully investing in Canada’s Capital Region and see more growth in its future.”

Mark Laroche, president and CEO, OIAA commented:  “Porter Airlines’ commitment to YOW is transformational for Canada’s Capital Region, and the community will reap the economic and social benefits for decades. Today’s hangar opening celebration demonstrates how being an airline’s hub airport creates new levels of prosperity and connectivity.”

Mark Sutcliffe, mayor, City of Ottawa said:  "Thank you to the team at Porter Airlines for recognizing the enormous potential of Ottawa as the perfect place to expand their operations. More flights in and out of Ottawa is great news for our residents, entrepreneurs, tourists, and the economy."

Claude Brulé, President of Algonquin College remarked:  "Our collaboration with Porter Airlines is a cornerstone of our strategy to integrate industry-leading practices into our curriculum and provide our students with unmatched real-world experience. This partnership not only aligns with our mission to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success but also enhances our contributions to the aviation industry."

Sustainability

The hangars are designed and built with sustainability in mind, including the following features:

A predominantly electric fleet of vehicles that will be used for towing and servicing aircraft, as well as ground support.

Design criteria that exceeds current energy efficiency standards, including for insulation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and electrical power systems.

The hangars are clad in Insulated Metal Panels (IMPs).

Superior to the standard metal siding usually found on aircraft hangars.

The anticipated lifespan is greater than 60 years.

Constructed with approximately 35% recycled steel and, at end of life, can in turn be recycled.

Constructed from materials that have a low embodied carbon footprint - 28% lower than conventional tilt-up assemblies.

The structure spans 85.6 m (280 ft.). This substantial clear span has been achieved using prefabricated trusses. The steel tonnage to span ratio is approximately 30% less than conventional rolled steel section beams.

Fire protection involves dual systems. In addition to a conventional sprinkler system, the aircraft parking and maintenance areas are equipped with an instantaneous foam deluge system. In the event of a fire, the multi-layers of fire suppression do not rely on a conventional single source of water supply. The city hydrant system is fully supplemented by an onsite underground water storage tank containing approximately 1.2 million litres of water.

Stormwater management has become an important factor in both commercial and industrial developments. Instead of rain/stormwater flowing directly to and overstressing existing city mains, two 173,000-litre underground tanks are being installed at the Porter hangars to capture excess.

The hangars are designed by Scott Associates Architects, with PCL Construction acting as Construction Manager, together with Span Construction & Engineering.

The Ottawa International Airport Authority - OIAA manages, operates and develops airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of Canada’s Capital Region, generating more than $2.2 billion annually in total economic activity in Ottawa and Gatineau.

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Porter starts new service between Toronto-Pearson and Québec City

The Canadian regional carrier, Porter Airlines has started a new jet service between Toronto-Pearson International Airport and Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport.  

The seasonal route will operate daily until 26th October using the airline's brand-new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The jet offers a two-by-two configuration, with fast and free WiFi available for every one of the 132 passengers the jet can carry. 

PorterReserve fares offer passengers an all-inclusive economy experience, with fresh and healthy meals, extra legroom seats, premium pre-mixed cocktails, priority check-in, and ticketing flexibility as standard. These options are available à la carte with PorterClassic fares.

Connections are available through Toronto-Pearson to Western Canada destinations Vancouver and Edmonton, providing passengers with more opportunities to experience Porter’s elevated onboard service when travelling across the country.

The new service more than doubles Porter’s capacity between the two cities, complementing existing flights between YQB and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), which are operated by the 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft.

Kevin Jackson, president, of Porter Airlines said:  "Québec City is a popular destination for travellers, with its rich history and culture. Porter’s new service adds more capacity on a busy seasonal route, and more opportunities for passengers to enjoy the elevated economy experience they deserve."

Stéphane Poirier, president and CEO of YQB commented:  "We are delighted that Porter Airlines is increasing its service from YQB with a new daily flight to Toronto Pearson Airport. The expanded service to the Canadian metropolis will undoubtedly appeal to the population of the Greater Québec City area, and facilitate connectivity to popular destinations in Western Canada and the United States. We salute Porter’s commitment, which testifies to the attractiveness and dynamism of our magnificent region."

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Porter Airlines to operate largest-ever summer schedule from Toronto

Porter Airlines is scheduled to offer travellers its most substantial summer schedule to date, featuring up to 176 daily flights to 27 destinations across North America taking off from Toronto. These flights will offer more passengers an elevated economy experience to more destinations than ever before.

By August, Porter will be the third-largest carrier flying from Toronto Pearson International Airport, with up to 74 daily flights to 16 destinations across Canada and the United States. Every flight from Toronto-Pearson is flown by the brand new, 132-seat Embraer E195-E2.

Routes from Toronto-Pearson feature destinations in the U.S. such as Florida, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, plus Canadian cities such as Halifax, Québec City, St. John’s, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, Winnipeg and Saskatoon.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport remains a convenient gateway from downtown Toronto to Porter’s extensive Eastern Canada network and the Northeastern U.S., with up to 102 daily flights to 15 destinations.

Flights from Billy Bishop are operated by the 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. Porter exclusively provides non-stop service to popular destinations from Billy Bishop that include New York-Newark, Chicago-Midway, Boston, Halifax, Washington D.C.-Dulles and Thunder Bay.

“Porter is offering passengers a level of generous economy service they will not receive from any other carrier serving Toronto and we’re continuing to provide passengers with more choice from both of the airports that serve the Greater Toronto community,” said Kevin Jackson, president, Porter Airlines.

“It was only last February that Porter started flying out of Toronto-Pearson, so to have grown to become the third-largest carrier this summer reinforces the fact that once passengers try our style of economy travel, we are seeing them choose to fly us again and to more destinations. We will continue to expand the number of destinations served as we take delivery of more of our Embraer E195 aircraft.”

Connecting flights within Porter’s own network, and globally through its partners are also available using Billy Bishop and Pearson. Through Toronto-Pearson, there is access to European cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam through the airline’s partnership with Air Transat.

“Porter’s growth over the last two years has been incredible,” said Kurush Minocher, executive director, customer experience and airline relationships, Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

Porter starts Montréal - Edmonton service

The Canadian regional air carrier, Porter Airlines has added its second Western Canada destination from Montréal, inaugurating service between Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Edmonton International Airport (YEG).

The new route starts with daily roundtrip flights operated on the 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. Passengers on this route will enjoy fast and free WiFi onboard, and a two-by-two configuration, meaning there are no middle seats on any Porter flight.

Porter offers genuine hospitality and an elevated onboard service for all passengers, including a selection of complimentary premium snacks and free beer and wine served in glassware. An expedited airport experience, ticketing flexibility, priority check-in, extra legroom seats, fresh, healthy meals and premium pre-mixed cocktails are part of the all-inclusive PorterReserve fare, and available à la carte with PorterClassic.

Montréal is also a convenient gateway to European destinations such as Rome, Amsterdam and Lisbon, thanks to Porter’s partnership with Air Transat. These connecting itineraries may be purchased as a single itinerary that includes seamless baggage transfers.

Service between Montréal and Vancouver was inaugurated in April, with Montréal-Calgary flights starting later this month. The launch of these three new western routes means that Porter will operate eight non-stop routes out of Montréal.

Porter also has existing daily flights connecting Edmonton with Toronto-Pearson and Ottawa.

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Porter starts Montréal - Vancouver route

Canadian regional carrier, Porter Airlines is starting a new service between Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The route marks Porter’s first Western Canada destination from Montréal.

All passengers will experience Porter’s genuine hospitality and elevated onboard service, including free, fast WiFi, a selection of premium snacks, and free beer and wine served in glassware. Priority check-in, extra legroom seats, premium pre-mixed cocktails, and fresh, healthy meals are also available with the all-inclusive PorterReserve fares or purchased à la carte with PorterClassic fares.

The new route begins with one daily roundtrip flight operated with Porter’s state-of-the-art 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The two-by-two configuration means there are no middle seats on any Porter flight.

The scheduled service offers a variety of connections to Eastern Canada via YUL, including Halifax, Toronto-Pearson and Toronto-City, complementing existing daily non-stop service between Toronto-Pearson and Ottawa to Vancouver.

Porter’s codeshare partnership with Air Transat provides convenient connections from YUL throughout Europe, to destinations like Paris and London. Travellers will benefit from more choice and seamless connections.

Service from Montréal to Edmonton and Calgary begins later this spring. With the launch of the three new western destinations, Porter will operate 8 non-stop routes out of Montréal.

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Porter celebrates first flight to Miami

Now serving five airports and seven routes in the Sunshine State

The Canadian carrier, Porter Airlines started a new service from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Miami International Airport this week as it expands its jet offering from Pearson.  

Miami marks the fifth new Florida destination that Porter has launched since the start of November, following Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale.   Flights between Toronto Pearson and Miami are operated by the new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The 132-seat, all-economy aircraft has a two-by-two configuration with no middle seats. 

“Porter is connecting travellers to the vibrant city of Miami, one of North America’s top business and leisure locations,” said Kevin Jackson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, of Porter Airlines. “With our commitment to an elevated economy experience, our passengers arrive refreshed and ready to explore what Miami has to offer.”   

“Miami is the eighth largest US market from Toronto Pearson this winter, which is not surprising given the high demand we are seeing for sun destinations,” said Kurush Minocher, Executive Director, Customer Experience and Airline Relations, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “Porter’s new service on this route will not only provide greater choice to passengers and more opportunities to fly direct.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome Porter Airlines to Miami-Dade County for the first time ever, and we look forward to serving their passengers at Miami International Airport,” said MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutié. “Canada is already one of our fastest-growing tourism markets, and Porter Airlines’ new daily service from Toronto is sure to strengthen that thriving connection between Canada and Miami even more.” 

Passengers on this flight enjoy Porter’s genuine hospitality and award-winning service. Everyone receives free, fast WiFi to stay connected and stream their preferred content on personal devices. A selection of premium snacks, and free beer and wine served in glassware are available for everyone onboard.  

Fresh, healthy meals, extra legroom seats, and premium cocktails are also available with the all-inclusive PorterReserve fares or can be purchased à la carte with PorterClassic fares. 

The new route also connects to Porter’s domestic network at Toronto Pearson, with flights available to Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, St John’s, and Winnipeg.

Porter Airlines and Alaska Airlines announce key strategic partnership

Porter Airlines and Alaska Airlines have announced a broad partnership, taking advantage of Porter’s strong presence across Eastern Canada and Alaska’s well-established U.S. West Coast links to provide passengers more flight options and better service from coast to coast.

The new interline agreement means that from today, passengers can purchase combined Porter-Alaska itineraries directly from flyporter.com or via third-party agencies.

Alaska’s Mileage Plan members can start earning points on Porter flights booked via Alaska Airlines from January, and later in 2024 both VIPorter and Mileage Plan members will earn miles in their respective loyalty programs no matter where they book their flights.

Finally, next year will bring even more benefits with access to mileage redemptions with enhanced availability for both VIPorter and Mileage Plan members on each other’s airline. Porter and Alaska will continue to strengthen their partnership in 2024.

“This partnership with Alaska Airlines is a significant win for passengers looking for more choice and better service when flying within Canada and the United States,” said Kevin Jackson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Porter Airlines. “Alaska and Porter emphasize passenger service excellence on each and every flight. We’re excited about what this means for passengers across North America.”

Two new Florida routes for Canada's regional carrier Porter

Porter Airlines has launched two new routes to Orlando International Airport from Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa International Airport using the carrier's new Embraer jets.   

Flying aboard the new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, Porter claims to bring genuine hospitality and an elevated onboard service to a new market.  It offers free, fast WiFi, a selection of premium snacks, and free beer and wine served in proper glassware.

The airline says that priority check-in, extra legroom seats, premium pre-mixed cocktails, and fresh, healthy meals are also available with the higher all-inclusive Porter Reserve fares, or can be purchased as individual elements of your trip with Porter Classic fares. 

The start of service to Orlando marks the third new Florida destination that Porter has touched down since the start of November, following Tampa and Fort Myers.  “Canadians are the most frequent international visitors to Florida, and Porter is proud to take off on two more routes into the Sunshine State,” said Kevin Jackson, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Porter Airlines. “With Porter’s unrivalled level of comfort for economy travellers, our passengers can look forward to enjoying the journey and the destination.” 

“Ottawa-Gatineau residents have proven that they are very keen to travel to sunny Florida,” said Mark Laroche, President and CEO, Ottawa International Airport Authority. “We are pleased to offer passengers an elevated experience on Porter’s new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft nonstop from YOW. Our partnership with Porter grows stronger with every new destination added.” 

“With Porter’s new service, Orlando International can offer passengers even more choices to visit Orlando’s popular theme parks and fascinating destinations like Toronto and Ottawa,” said Kevin J. Thibault, CEO, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “We are glad to have Porter join our airline family and look forward to many journeys ahead.” 

“We’re pleased to see the launch of Porter’s service to Orlando and their continued commitment to growing their network from Toronto Pearson,” said Khalil Lamrabet, Chief Commercial Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “Orlando will be Pearson's second largest transborder market this winter and with heightened demand to Florida Porter's daily service will add 8% more seats between the two markets."  

“Porter’s direct flight service to Orlando provides a new option for travellers to more easily get to the theme park capital of the world,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO for Visit Orlando. “The timing is ideal, ahead of winter travel, giving Canadians the opportunity to soak up the sunshine this winter and beyond.” 

The new routes give passengers from Florida the opportunity to travel onwards to Western Canada destinations, with connections available to cities including Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

Canadian airline Porter's cabin crew get ready to unionize with CUPE

The cabin crew at Porter are said to be excited about the opportunity to have their voices heard and improve the working conditions at the regional Canadian carrier by joining Canada’s flight attendant union, CUPE.

“Porter cabin crew deserve better working conditions, better wages, and better scheduling in a mutually agreed contract – just like flight attendants at unionized airlines in Canada,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “But without an enforceable contract and a strong union voice, the company makes the rules and can change them whenever they feel like it.”

That will change with CUPE, where Porter cabin crew will have the support and the resources of Canada’s largest union at their disposal to help negotiate a strong contract.