Porter doubles sun destination capacity for 2026 winter season
This is a special feature from the May 2026 Post-WTCE/Awards issue of PAX International, on page 16.
Andrew Pierce, Vice President of Network Planning and Reporting, Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines is significantly expanding its sun destination network for the 2026/2027 winter season, doubling capacity to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America while adding new destinations and routes from Western Canada.
The expanded schedule introduces four new destinations to Porter’s network: Aruba, Los Cabos, Montego Bay and San José, Costa Rica. Porter Airlines tells PAX International the move reflects growing demand for leisure travel and marks a major evolution in its network strategy following its initial expansion into sun markets last winter.
“This past winter was the first time Porter entered into sun markets beyond the U.S.,” says Andrew Pierce, Vice President of Network Planning and Reporting at Porter Airlines. “The Sun region will represent nearly 50 percent of our capacity next winter.”
In total, Porter plans to operate nearly 5,000 flights to sun destinations during the upcoming winter season, representing growth of more than 150 percent compared to the previous year.
The expansion also marks Porter’s first non-domestic routes from Canada’s western province Alberta. The city of Edmonton will gain service to Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Las Vegas and Phoenix, while Calgary will see new flights to Phoenix.
“We see significant opportunity in this market to expand our network and believe that the community can support these initial flights,” Pierce says of Edmonton.
Additional U.S. sun market growth includes resumed Vancouver–Phoenix service, a second daily Toronto–Phoenix flight and expanded routes connecting Halifax, Hamilton and Ottawa with destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Miami.
Sunshine sells
Pierce says Porter’s first year operating in Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica exceeded expectations, with load factors averaging approximately 80 percent.
“There is robust demand for the Porter product and the region performed very well for our first year,” he says.
Building on that momentum, Porter is also introducing vacation packages through a joint venture partnership with Air Transat. The packages will initially be available from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton, pairing Porter’s onboard experience with Transat’s vacation expertise.
The airline says the expanded network reflects its strategy of expanding in markets where demand is strongest while continuing to diversify beyond domestic travel.
“We continue to fly where our passengers want to travel,” Pierce says.
