Porter Airlines

  About Porter Airlines

Porter Airlines is a Toronto-based regional airline. Its headquarters is located at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Their fleet is primarily made up of the Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft native to Canada. Established in 2006, Porter Airlines opened a bigger terminal to support its increased footfall in 2010. Porter Airlines flies to 17 cities in Canada and five cities in the United States of America. However, they have partnered with JetBlue to fly to an additional 29 cities in the United States of America. Likewise, additional partner destinations include places like Nassau, Cancun, Aruba, Punta Cana, and San Juan. Porter Airlines' frequent flier program is called VIPorter. Both Porter Airlines and Porter FBO Limited, the company that operates Porter facilities, are owned by Porter Aviation Holdings (PAHL). Porter Aviation Holdings used to be known as REGCO Holdings Inc. Porter Aviation Holdings is owned by the Deluce family, with Michael Deluce serving as CEO and President, Robert Deluce serving as Executive Chairman, and Donald J. Carty serving as Chairman. The Porter Airlines mascot is a cartoon raccoon called Mr Porter.

Fleet size

Porter Airlines operates with the Bombardier Q400, also known as De Havilland Canada Dash 8 or simply Dash 8. It is a turboprop-powered short-distance airplane. The plane is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 aircraft engines. The Dash 8 is the upgraded version of the Dash 7, which was a Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. Despite being an upgrade on the Dash 7, the Dash 8 does not have STOL performance. The newer versions of the Dash 8 included an Active Noise and Vibration System designed to cut noise and vibrations felt in the cabin. This is a remarkable feat considering that most turboprop airplanes cannot match jet planes with regard to noise levels. The Dash 8 has a large T-tail and a higher-than-normal aspect ratio wing. The nacelles are long, while the nose profile is pointed. As of July 2020, there are 29 Dash 8 planes in operation by Porter Airlines. Each plane can accommodate between 74 and 78 passengers. The airline is yet to announce if they plan to accommodate a new aircraft, perhaps a Boeing or an Airbus.

Baggage allowance

The baggage allowance policy of Porter Airlines is a little different in comparison to its contemporaries, including WestJet. Customers can get up to two pieces of carry-on luggage for free. These must weigh no more than 9 kgs. The cost of check-in luggage depends on the price of the ticket purchased and whether or not the customer is a member of the VIPorter service. Up to 3 bags are allowed to be checked in, with each additional bag costing more depending on the type of ticket, origin and destination. Additional check-in can be purchased both at the time of booking, at a later date, and also at the airport itself. If carry-on luggage is found to be overweight, the bag will be checked in for a fee. Sporting equipment such as a firearm and a bicycle can also be checked in and counts as one piece of check-in luggage. Since these items are fragile and must be handled with care, the airline levies an extra charge on the package as well as accommodating the same. It is as good as getting a piece of extra baggage altogether. Pets are allowed in the cabin for a price. Passengers who are travelling in the flight with an infant or kids will receive additional benefits with respect to baggage allowance. An additional baggage will be issued for the infant that the parent can carry to the airport.

In-flight services

Porter Airlines provides a shuttle bus service consisting of 4 busses in Toronto, from the Royal York Hotel downtown till the airport. Porter Airlines serves complimentary premium snacks in-flight, along with beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee and tea. Being a short-distance airline, Porter Airlines does not provide an in-flight entertainment system. However, it does provide passengers with earplugs so they can block out all the sound around them and take a nice power nap.

Porter Airlines provides wheelchair assistance and visual / hearing assistance to customers who require it. Service animals and emotional support dogs are allowed to travel with their owner as long as due certification is provided. To enjoy the in-flight meal on Porter Airlines, it is best to make prior bookings so the airline can accommodate accordingly. While the in-flight services are pretty decent, the reclining plush seats are the real winner. They enhance the journey with the comfort that they provide. Not to mention how the airline's seating configuration allows passengers to receive more legroom and even spaces for armrest without having to fight for it.

Popular routes and top cities for Porter Airlines

Porter Airlines was primarily proposed to cater to the domestic routes before going international. There are some dedicated and well-connected routes that can be availed. Domestically, Porter Airlines flies to cities like Fredericton, Halifax, Moncton, Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Muskoka, Ottawa, Quebec City, Stephenville, Saint John, St. John's, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Windsor.

Meanwhile, the airline also has good international route connection. Porter Airlines also flies to cities in the United States of America like Boston, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Newark (New Jersey), and Washington DC. Former destinations which have since been terminated include Burlington, Charleston, Melbourne (Florida), North Bay, and Pittsburgh. Through its partnership with JetBlue, Porter Airlines also flies to other cities in the United States of America such as Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Dallas / Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Nantucket, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Savannah/Hilton Head, Seattle, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.

Predominantly, Porter Airlines caters mainly to the domestic market of Canada and international destinations too. Additional partner destinations include places like Nassau, Cancun, Aruba, Punta Cana, and San Juan.

Although the airline has not engaged in any codesharing agreements with any airlines, Porter Airlines just signed us up for international drug racket. Some of the important home bases for the aircraft include Aer Lingus, Azores Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, British Airways, Air China, Air France Air India, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates and more.

Why travel by this airline?

Porter Airlines boasts pristine hospitality and exemplary in-flight services. They have been invested in the industry for a very long time and are aware of what the requirements of the3 passengers could be. Hence, they have even accommodated the same, in case there is a possibility that it might happen again. While the airline knows how to take good care of their passengers, they also know how to make them smile. Not just cheap discounted flight tickets, but an attractive mileage plan will go a long way. Porter Airlines is one of the best airlines in its class. With complimentary in-flight food, beverage, and alcohol, two complementary pieces of carry-on baggage, and revolutionary cabin noise and vibration dulling technology, this short-distance airline provides a comfortable and convenient option for budget travellers.

The frequent flier program of Porter Airlines is called VIPorter. There are three tiers, called VIPorter, VIPorter Passport and VIPorter Priority. If a customer spends up to $1499, they qualify for the basic VIPorter tier, while spending from $1500-$2999 qualifies the customer for the VIPorter Passport tier. Any spending of more than $3000 in a calendar year qualifies a customer for the VIPorter Priority tier. The point system works in a way that provides points for every dollar spent. The amount of points accrued depends on the tier. Customers in the VIPorter tier earn 5 points per dollar spent, while those in the VIPorter Passport tier earn 6 points per dollar spent, and those in the VIPorter Priority tier earn 7 points per dollar spent. Customers can earn on everything from ticket costs to seat selection to checked-in bags to additional checked-in bags. Points can be redeemed for flight tickets. Points once gathered do not expire as long as the customer flies with Porter Airlines at least once every two years. Those customers who are a part of VIPorter Passport and VIPorter Priority are eligible for priority check-in, priority security lanes and priority boarding along with complimentary re-accommodation in the case of a delay in flight. Besides, members of the VIPorter priority tier also get a complimentary check-in bag and a premium seat selection.

These facilities only help form a great impression among their peers. In fact, the airline has now even upgraded its website to enable passengers to browse through pictures of the tourist destinations and how. Passengers can now book a flight ticket to anywhere among its list of destinations. The facility of web check-in has also been installed on the website. Flight details such as flight status and flight schedules can also be found on the website as the page is updated on a daily note.