01FEB is a red-letter day for Porter Airlines. The only airline building "full route networks at both Toronto airports" has touched down in Ottawa and Montreal with its first scheduled Embraer E195-E2 flights connecting Toronto Pearson.
Service on the Toronto Pearson-Ottawa route begins with four daily, non-stop return flights. Service on the Montreal route begins with three daily, non-stop return flights and increases to four on 07FEB.
The introduction of E195-E2 service on YOW and YUL routes, which are also served by Porter’s Dash 8-400 operations at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), give passengers choice of airports when travelling to and from the Greater Toronto Area.
Porter's expansion of jet service from Pearson Airport will make it, as the company says, the only airline with comprehensive networks at both of Toronto’s main airports. Porter says it is focusing on regional flights via Billy Bishop and other top North American destinations at Pearson.
OPEN JAW'S NINA SLAWEK FLEW ON PORTER'S PRE-LAUNCH DEMO EMBRAER FLIGHT AND SPOKE TO PORTER EXECS ABOUT THE EXPANSION:
Additional flights at Pearson begin this month, starting with Vancouver (07FEB), Edmonton (14FEB), Calgary (22FEB) and Halifax (23FEB).
The airline says more route announcements are forthcoming, as Porter establishes its E195-E2 network. The airline intends to build a presence in key Eastern Canada cities - Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax - that will connect across the continent to the west coast, southern U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.
Passengers on 01FEB's inaugural flights were greeted at the gates with a taste of Porter’s premium in-flight service; including Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, Sloane Fine Tea Merchants and Cookie It Up chocolate chip shortbread. To welcome passengers as they boarded, everyone received $150 flight vouchers for future travel, and one lucky passenger on each flight won a round-trip for two to any Porter destination, flying in PorterReserve, a new, all-inclusive economy experience.
PorterReserve builds on the perks of the airline’s existing signature in-flight service - referred to as PorterClassic - featuring complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, along with a selection of premium snacks. PorterReserve also includes dedicated airport check-in, early boarding, enhanced legroom, two checked bags and the ability to change flights without a fee. On longer flights, there is an enhanced catering menu featuring fresh, healthy meals, pre-mixed cocktails and additional snack options.
Porter is debuting the E195-E2 for North American travellers, featuring a 132-seat, all-economy, two-by-two configuration, and free WiFi for every passenger. The airline has ordered up to 100 E195-E2s, including 50 firm deliveries scheduled to arrive over the next two years.
Porter notes it is the only airline with no middle seats on every flight, including its existing De Havilland Dash 8-400 fleet.
More information is available at www.flyporter.com.
