Porter Adds First Transborder from Vancouver

‍TORONTO — Porter Airlines' (PD) drive for its U.S. network expansion continues with today’s announcement of  three new routes: Ottawa (YOW) to both Phoenix (PHX) and Miami (MIA), as well as Vancouver (YVR) to Phoenix.

The new flight from Vancouver is notable in particular as it marks the first transborder flight from the airline’s base at YVR. Both flights will be operated by the Canadian carrier’s fleet of 52 Embraer E195-E2s.

“Being able to give travellers more convenient options to travel from Vancouver is a pivotal moment for Porter,” said Andrew Pierce, Porter’s vice president, network planning and reporting. “This route makes Phoenix’s unique desert and mountain landscape more accessible to our passengers in the west, and offers travellers a seamless connection to additional destinations in the U.S., through our codeshare partner, American Airlines.”

The very first flight departs today at 16:35 local and will operate daily during the winter until April 19.

Porter opened a crew base at YVR in October 2024 with around 100 pilots and cabin crew. The base serves both of the carrier’s E2 hubs in Toronto (YYZ) and Ottawa, the focus city Montreal (YUL), as well as Hamilton (YHM) and, now, Phoenix, with the only seasonal flight from Vancouver.

However, the airline will be closing its crew bases in Thunder Bay (YQT) and Halifax (YHZ) this coming May. This will affect 26 flight attendants and 28 pilots in Thunder Bay, and 32 pilots in Halifax, as Porter consolidates its flight crew workforce at these former bases around Toronto and Ottawa.

Meanwhile, in the east, Miami and Phoenix are destinations 28 and 29, respectively, from Porter’s hub in Ottawa, where it serves more destinations than any other airline. The airline will serve 26 non-stop destinations from YOW this winter.

Both routes have a peak frequency of 3 times weekly, with the Miami flight beginning last week on January 24 and the Phoenix flight this week on February 7. Both flights are winter-seasonal.

Andrew Pierce addressing the new connections said: “The ongoing addition of nonstop routes from YOW reflects Porter’s commitment to Ottawa-Gatineau. Canadians want to escape winter, and these in-demand routes provide more options and more sun for the region.”

Porter today serves 45 airports in 6 countries across North America with its fleet of 29 De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400s and 52 Embraer E195-E2s, totaling 81 aircraft. The airline maintains an order book for 23 additional E2s, with 25 purchase rights. The first E2 was delivered in late 2022.