Porter Airlines Celebrates 19 Years of Growth, Innovation, and Elevated Travel Across North America
Porter Airlines is celebrating its 19th anniversary, marking nearly two decades of innovation, expansion, and a steadfast commitment to providing an elevated economy travel experience across North America. Since its inception, the airline has redefined regional travel by combining efficiency, comfort, and thoughtful service, setting a benchmark for the industry and consistently expanding its footprint both domestically and internationally.
Over the past 12 months, Porter Airlines has experienced remarkable growth, reflecting both its operational excellence and its dedication to serving passengers with a premium travel experience. The airline has grown to employ over 4,300 team members, an increase of 400 over the previous year, demonstrating its ongoing investment in talent and operational capacity. With this workforce, Porter continues to deliver seamless travel experiences across an expanding network of destinations.
Fleet Expansion and Industry Leadership
Porter’s fleet has grown significantly, now including 48 Embraer E195-E2 jets, making it the world’s largest operator of this aircraft type. These modern jets, known for their fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and comfort, are part of Porter’s plan to operate up to 100 of these aircraft, reflecting the airline’s forward-looking growth strategy. In addition to its Embraer fleet, Porter maintains a total of 77 aircraft, including 29 De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops. This mixed fleet allows the airline to serve both short-haul regional routes and longer North American destinations effectively.
Expanding Routes and Destinations
In 2025 alone, Porter has added 20 new routes, bringing its total to 87, and introduced seven new destinations, raising its overall network to 45 cities. This expansion represents a major step in the airline’s strategy to offer Canadians and North Americans more options, greater convenience, and broader access to both business and leisure destinations.
For the first time in its history, Porter is extending its service footprint beyond Canada and the United States. During the winter season of 2025, the airline is launching flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, with 13 routes departing from four Canadian airports. This marks a major milestone in Porter’s growth strategy, highlighting the airline’s commitment to connecting travelers to popular leisure destinations while maintaining the quality and reliability it is known for.
The airline has also strengthened its presence at Hamilton International Airport, introducing significant new service in June 2025. With this expansion, Porter now operates scheduled flights from all three major airports in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area: Toronto Pearson, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and Hamilton. This unique multi-airport strategy enhances connectivity and convenience for travelers across the region, reinforcing Porter’s reputation as a leading regional airline.
Rooted in Billy Bishop Airport, Expanding Across North America
Porter Airlines was founded at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, where it remains the largest carrier. From this hub, the airline connects passengers to 15 non-stop routes across Eastern Canada and key U.S. destinations, providing both business and leisure travelers with fast, reliable access to major cities. Its growing presence also spans Toronto Pearson, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax, reflecting Porter’s strategic commitment to serving multiple major Canadian airports while expanding its international reach.
Pioneering Elevated Economy Travel
Since its founding, Porter Airlines has been a pioneer in redefining economy travel. It was the first North American airline to offer an elevated economy experience, characterized by features such as no middle seats, complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, and premium snacks available on every flight. This unique approach has not only differentiated Porter from other carriers but also set a new standard for comfort and customer satisfaction in the regional airline market.
The airline’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, earning recognition through numerous industry awards:
- APEX – Top 3 Regional Airlines in the World
- SkyTrax – Best Regional Airline in North America
- USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards – Best Economy Class
- Baxter Media Agents’ Choice Awards – Favourite Airline, Economy Class
- PAX International – Most Improved Airline in North America
These accolades highlight Porter’s commitment to providing a superior passenger experience while fostering innovation across its operations.
A Message from Leadership
“Our team members are the driving force behind our continued growth and success,” said Michael Deluce, CEO of Porter Airlines. “Over the past 19 years, we’ve led the way by introducing meaningful customer experience benefits that others are now replicating. At the same time, we’ve created more opportunities for our people and offered more choices for passengers. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to even greater successes as we enter our 20th year.”
Innovation Beyond the Sky
Porter’s commitment to innovation extends beyond aircraft and service. In 2025, the airline launched the BMO VIPorter Mastercard lineup, giving Canadians a new way to earn travel rewards with immediate frequent flyer benefits and industry-leading earn rates. This initiative exemplifies Porter’s focus on enriching the travel experience for its customers both in the air and on the ground.
The airline has also strengthened its strategic partnerships with major carriers such as Air Transat, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. These collaborations expand travel options, improve connectivity, and create seamless journeys for passengers traveling beyond Canada, enhancing Porter’s overall value proposition in the competitive North American airline market.
As Porter Airlines celebrates 19 years of operation, it continues to look forward with ambitious plans for growth, innovation, and customer satisfaction. With its modern fleet, expanding route network, award-winning service, and commitment to elevated economy travel, the airline is well-positioned to enter its 20th year as a leading regional carrier in North America.
Porter’s journey over the past two decades reflects a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and an unwavering focus on passenger experience. As it expands beyond borders and continues to innovate, the airline remains dedicated to connecting people, communities, and cultures, making travel not just a necessity but a delightful and memorable part of life.
In celebrating 19 years of service, Porter Airlines pays tribute to its employees, partners, and passengers, all of whom have contributed to its success. With nearly two decades of experience and a strong foundation for future growth, the airline is set to continue transforming the regional airline experience, bringing comfort, convenience, and joy to travelers across North America and beyond.