A Porter Airlines Q400 taking off. (Photo: BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada (Monday evening departure) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)
Toronto-based short-haul carrier Porter Airlines announced a lengthy and exciting new overhaul for its passenger experience on Tuesday. The airline that has made a name for itself with convenient services to Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport with DeHavilland Dash 8 Q-400 aircraft is revamping its offerings on the single-aisle turboprop as well as its brand new, Embraer E195-E2 jets.
The airline announced that all Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will offer free Wi-Fi to all passengers including inflight access to streaming services. Porter says that, on longer flights, it will begin to offer fresh meal options. The airline also says it will be maintaining its standard, 2-2 seating on the E195-E2 fleet allowing more personal space for every passenger.
Michael Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines said in a press release, “Other airlines have been focused on taking away perks and comforts for decades, but we believe that people should actually enjoy flying as economy passengers. It is possible, as we know from having already redefined regional travel over 16 years ago. Now we’re ready to do it for a broader North American market in a way that no traditional or low cost carrier is willing to. It’s an enhanced experience that builds on our reputation for providing an elevated level of service to every passenger at reasonable prices in a single class of service.”
The carrier is still making sure to account for the needs of every passenger too, announcing a new set of fare classes that allow customers to choose the perks they do and don’t want.
Porter Reserve will let passengers experience all of the benefits of Porter’s full service just at a much lower rate while Porter’s traditional economy fare will now be sold as Porter Classic. Seats on the new Embraer E195-E2 will have 132 seats in an all-economy configuration offering various legroom offerings at the front of the aircraft. Porter’s E195-E2 aircraft will allow the airline to expand its services from Toronto Pearson Airport to destinations as far as Mexico while its shorter haul Dash 8s will continue to operate out of Billy Bishop Airport for convenient, short regional flights.
Porter says it aims to show travelers that affordable, comfortable travel can still be done at a time when many carriers continue to cut costs. The airline says the first of its 100 E195-E2 aircraft will be delivered later this year with routes announced later in December.
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