Almost 18 months after suspending flights due to the pandemic, Porter Airlines resumed Canadian operations 08SEP.
The flight schedule is returning in phases, with the initial group of Canadian destinations being Halifax, Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, St. John's, NL, Thunder Bay and Toronto. U.S. destinations in Boston, Chicago, New Yorkand Washington follow on 17SEP.
“Our passengers and team members have been waiting for this day to arrive,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines.
“We currently have over 900 team members who have put in countless hours to get everything ready for our return to service, with more being recalled or hired every week. Everyone at Porter is looking forward to welcoming passengers back and delivering our distinct style of service again."
Porter Airlines's resumption of operations also marked the return to service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Toronto Island, where celebrations were attended by Toronto Mayor John Tory.
"The restart of commercial service at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an important sign of the progress we have made combatting the pandemic and getting residents vaccinated. We are safely reopening our city and I'm so confident that our economic recovery will be a success,” Tory said.
“Toronto will come back stronger than ever thanks to all of our collective efforts across the city. I want to thank everyone who has worked on the airport restart effort. Today we are welcoming back commercial service and all that it brings with it – more jobs, more business, and more tourism."
Porter Airlines is also set to resume service to four U.S. destinations: Boston, Chicago, New York and Washington, on 17SEP.
Flights to other year-round destinations are set to resume as of 06OCT.
All routes currently open for booking, and the initial flight schedule can be found at www.flyporter.com.
Bookings made before 30SEP will be eligible to change or cancel with no fees. Passengers also have the option to book a flight with the Full Refund Option for $40 plus taxes. The Refund Option entitles customers to receive a refund, including base fare, taxes and fees, for their booking upon advance cancellation of their flight for any reason.
Porter’s Healthy Flights program describes its health and safety practices.
Although Ottawa announced in AUG a new policy requiring federally-regulated industries, including aviation, to mandate worker vaccinations by OCT, when it resumes flying today, the carrier requires only that, “team members must present a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of the start of their shift or be fully vaccinated,” but indicated those policies may yet change.
