Porter Airlines is celebrating its 19th birthday, marking nearly two decades of growth, innovation and an ongoing mission to elevate economy travel across North America.

In the past year alone, the airline has expanded significantly across its network, fleet and workforce. Porter now employs more than 4,300 team members, an increase of 400 in the past 12 months. Its fleet has grown to 77 aircraft, including 29 De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft and 48 Embraer E195-E2 jets, making it the world’s largest operator of this aircraft type, with up to 100 jets on order.

Network expansion has been a major focus, with the addition of 20 new routes and seven new destinations over the past year, for a total of 87 routes and 45 destinations. For the first time, the airline is extending its footprint beyond Canada and the U.S., with flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America launching this winter. These 13 new sun routes will operate from four Canadian airports, offering passengers more leisure travel options.

Porter also introduced significant service from Hamilton International Airport in June 2025, becoming the only airline operating scheduled flights from all three major Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area airports: Toronto Pearson, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Hamilton.

Porter was initially established at Billy Bishop Airport, where it continues to enhance regional connectivity across Eastern Canada and key U.S. destinations. It is the largest airline operating at this airport, with flights connecting 15 non-stop routes. This complements an expanding North American presence at Toronto-Pearson, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

Since its founding, Porter has aimed to redefine the economy travel experience by offering enhanced service on every flight. It was the first North American airline to eliminate middle seats and provide complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, along with premium snacks. These elevated touches have become a hallmark of the brand, setting a new standard for short- and medium-haul travel.

The airline’s growing presence has also been reinforced through new customer and loyalty initiatives. Earlier this year, Porter launched the BMO VIPorter Mastercard lineup, giving Canadians new ways to earn travel rewards with immediate frequent flyer benefits and industry-leading earn rates. At the same time, the expansion of airline partnerships, including Air Transat, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, is enhancing connectivity and travel options for passengers beyond Canada.

For more on Porter’s continued growth, go to flyporter.com.

Source: Travelweek