Porter Airlines Swoops into YYJ for travellers to Toronto

Seventeen years after it first took off, Porter Airlines has landed in Victoria.

The carrier sold out yesterday’s inaugural flight from Victoria International Airport (YYJ) to Toronto's Pearson International Airport (YYZ) as it began a once-a-day return-flight regime at YYJ.

Why did it take the boutique airline so long to get here?

Well, size, really.

Its De Havilland Dash 8-400 propeller seated fewer than 90 passengers and the company itself was more of a regional carrier, serving Eastern Canada, with a few flights to the northeastern US.

But Porter bought a bunch of new planes for new plans in new markets.

Victoria is one of them.

“We’re really growing a North American network and Victoria is day one for us here,” Brad Cicero, the company’s director of communications, tells Capital Daily.

Porter has purchased a fleet of larger aircraft. Its new Embraer E195-E2, 132-seat plane features a two-by-two configuration, eliminating that sometimes awkward middle seat, and creating a little more passenger room.

The company currently has 19 in service and confirmed orders for 31 more of the new and highly respected aircraft. Deliveries started last December, Cicero said, with Porter holding an option to buy 50 more.

The Brazilian-built Embraer E195-E2 has the lowest fuel consumption per seat and per trip in its class and is the quietest single-aisle jet flying today, according to a Porter Air release.

Jets are not allowed to land at Billy Bishop, the island airport in the heart of downtown Toronto, which takes smaller planes only, so daily flights from YYJ are to Pearson International.

Porter will offer Victoria-Toronto return flights with daily arrivals at 1pm and departures an hour later daily.

“It shows confidence in the travel market for Victoria to have them come here,” said Rod Hunchak, director of business development and community relations for the Victoria Airport Authority.

‍“It’s a boost to us post-COVID to see Porter expanding their market in general and choosing Victoria specifically.”

Travellers had only two options to fly directly to Toronto: Air Canada, with prices typically in the $1K range, or the low-cost Swoop, which is slated to fold into parent company WestJet late next month.

Prices often vary, but a Swoop flight to the Big Smoke and back will cost you approximately $600.

Looks like Porter is going to swoop right in between the two, with its daily return flights going for as low as $715.

“They are offering basically an enhanced economy experience,” said Hunchak. “It’s two seats with one aisle so you’re never going to feel like you’re overcrowded.”

In addition, Porter offers complimentary beer or wine served in glassware, free wi-fi, snacks and catering consisting of fresh—never frozen, Cicero emphasizes—foods that are healthy.

The carrier also offers an all-inclusive experience in the first 16 seats, with perks such as the flexibility to change flights.

“We’re definitely not a low-cost carrier,” says Cicero. “We’re a full-service carrier, offering an elevated, premium product.”

Porter’s next flighty foray will be into Florida with direct flights from Toronto and Ottawa beginning in a few weeks, Cicero said.