Porter Airlines pairs sunshine with signature service
This is a special feature from the September 2025 IFSA Global EXPO issue of PAX International, on page 24.
Onboard, Porter offers complimentary beer and wine in glassware, free high-speed streaming Wi-Fi and spacious seating with no middle seats
Porter Airlines is expanding its network this winter with its first-ever services beyond Canada and the United States, signaling a significant step in the carrier’s growth strategy. Leveraging its modern E195-E2 fleet, Porter is launching 13 routes to five leisure destinations—Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Liberia, Costa Rica and Nassau, Bahamas. The expansion connects key Canadian markets, including Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa, with high-demand sun destinations aligning with the airline’s broader objective to diversify its route portfolio and capture seasonal travel demand.
Edmond Eldebs, Porter Airlines' Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, tells PAX International this expansion is key to capturing market share as Canadian interest in Latin America and the Caribbean is on the rise.
“We wanted to have a combination of familiar and fresh options for travelers,” Eldebs says, explaining that the chosen destinations perform well for air-only sales rather than relying on vacation packages. Onboard, passengers can expect the hallmarks of Porter’s services, including complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, no middle seats and free high-speed Wi-Fi for streaming.
Edmond Eldebs, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Porter Airlines
“This includes the ability to stream preferred personal entertainment as if you were at home,” Eldebs adds.
The route expansion mutually benefits Porter’s joint venture with Air Transat, complementing the partner’s network and giving travelers additional choice for destinations, travel dates and the number of flights on a given route, Eldebs says.
Air Transat passengers now have access to Porter destinations such as Nassau and Grand Cayman, while VIPorter members can redeem points for flights on either airline starting at 10,000 points each way. In the coming months, Air Transat Vacations will offer packages with Porter flights to sun markets, broadening Porter’s reach to leisure travelers booking vacation getaways.
As Porter expands into international sun destinations, Eldebs says the airline will continue to prioritize operational reliability and consistent service to uphold its signature experience. Maintaining strong performance on key benchmarks remains central to its strategy, monitoring customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores.
The carrier’s commitment to its service ethos has earned it recognition as the Best Regional Airline in North America by Skytrax for both 2024 and 2025, as well as the 2024 and 2025 PAX Readership Award for Most Improved Airline in North America.
“This prestigious recognition is a reflection of how our entire team delivers award-winning service—something that cannot be replicated,” Eldebs says.
