Porter Airlines has announced its first transcontinental routes to the United States. The airline revealed plans to begin flying to Los Angeles and San Francisco in January 2024.

Airline’s California Routes

The airline has announced that it will start once daily service from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Flights to Los Angeles will start on Jan. 16 and flights to San Francisco are slated to begin on Jan. 25.

The Toronto to Los Angeles flight will depart daily at 10:30 a.m. and arrive at 1:05 p.m. The return flight is scheduled to depart at 2:45 p.m. and arrive at 10:32 p.m. The daily San Francisco service is slated to depart Toronto at 10:30 a.m. as well, with an arrival time of 1:22 p.m. The return flight from San Franscico to Toronto is scheduled to leave at 2:50 p.m. and land in Toronto at 10:36 p.m.

These flights to California will be Porter’s first routes to the west coast of the United States. They will also be the longest U.S. routes in the airline’s history, with that title previously being held by the airline’s turboprop flights from Toronto and Ottawa to Melbourne Orlando International Airport in Florida.

Porter’s Ongoing U.S. Expansion

Porter has long had a presence United States. From its founding in in 2006 through 2022, the airline exclusively operated a fleet of Dash 8 Q-400 turboprops. The airline had a network of short-haul flights centered around its base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in downtown Toronto. Porter turboprops have been a regular sight at airports like Boston Logan International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport for many years.

However, the carrier had limited growth options due to the range of the Dash 8 Q-400 as well as Toronto Billy Bishop Airport’s size and prohibition on jet aircraft. This changed when the airline ordered 30 Embraer E195-E2 jets in 2021. After taking delivery of these aircraft, the airline began E195-E2 operations from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

Since then, the airline has rapidly expanded its operations at Toronto Pearson. It has added several domestic Canadian routes and announced a handful of U.S. destinations as well, including Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers, all of which are in Florida. The latest route announcement is a continuation of Porter’s ambitious growth plans.

One of the key challenges for Porter at Toronto Pearson is competition with other carriers. In particular, Porter does not have the large connecting networks of well-established players like Air Canada and WestJet. As it grows its network though, Porter is starting to offer more connection options. With the introduction of its E195-E2 jets, Porter also brought in a revamped economy class product, and its onboard passenger experience has proven to be very competitive.

“Porter’s onboard experience focuses on providing economy travelers with service that is unmatched by any carrier in North America,” Kevin Jackson, Porter’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer said, in a press release announcing the new routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“We believe that every passenger deserves genuine hospitality and high-quality service that makes time onboard our aircraft something to look forward to,” Jackson added. “Our arrival in California will be welcomed by those looking for a new way to travel between the west coast and Canada.”

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Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

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