History of Porter Airlines

Porter Airlines was established in early February, 2006, starting operations in late October of the same year. Its main operating hub is the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

In June 2007, Porter Airlines received official clearance from the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide scheduled and charter service. The airline’s first US destination was New York (Newark Liberty International Airport), at the end of March, 2008.

In June 2008, Porter Airlines introduced VIPorter, its frequent flyer program. Points collected can be redeemed for complimentary travel on Porter Airlines after only 5 one-way flights.

In June 2009, Porter Airlines upgraded the interior of its aircraft, the entire 12-aircraft Bombardier Q400 fleet, with ultra-comfortable Spectrum seating. Spectrum seats offer longer seat cushions, built-in headrests and larger meal trays. The seats also feature an extra half-inch of legroom. Porter’s 70-seat configuration provides two to three more inches than typical economy seating, up to 34 inches of seat pitch.

In July 2010, for the third year in a row, Porter Airlines was rated an Official 4 Star Airline by Skytrax, representing a recognized standard of quality performance across a broad range of product and service (service efficiency, lounge facilities, check-in services, baggage delivery). Porter Airlines is the only Canadian airline to be awarded a 4-Star ranking in the World Airline Star Rating.

In 2011, Porter Airlines, as the highest rated Canadian airline, received the second place in the world in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Small Airlines category.

In 2012, Porter Airlines established its first interline partnership with Qatar Airways, continuing its plans to add multiple interline partners with another interline agreement with South African Airways.

In 2013, Porter Airlines became the first major Canadian airline to offer a baggage delivery guarantee, providing extra assurance for passengers.

On November 8, 2013, Porter Airlines carried passenger number 10 million in its history.

In late 2013, Porter added four additional seats to all of its Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft, reaching a total of 74 seats per aircraft. Due to the length of the runway available on Billy Bishop, Porter Airlines’ aircraft had only 70 seats, instead of the usual 78 available in the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400.
In July 2016, Porter announced the firm purchase agreement of three additional Q400 planes, two expected to be delivered in December 2016 and the third in February 2017.
In April 2019, Porter Airlines reorganized its executive team to ensure continuity for its immediate and future development. Robert Deluce, Porter’s founding president and CEO, also assumed the new role of executive chairman. Porter Airlines is revolutionizing the term “regional airline” and, with a warm approach to hospitality, raising the bar and restoring glamour and refinement when it comes to short-haul flying.

Serving 23 regional destinations in Canada and the United States, Porter Airlines now operates a fleet of 29 Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

Despite various problems with the local community, concerned with noise and pollution caused by Porter Airlines’ aircraft, the airline managed to keep operate without any major incident so far.