Porter Airlines celebrates first flights from Pearson Airport in Mississauga

Porter Airlines is now taking off from Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

The airline, which previously ran its passenger planes exclusively out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport announced a new relationship with Pearson in December.

And on Feb. 1, Porter celebrated its first flights with the new Embraer E195-E2 between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa International Airport and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, according to a press release from Porter Airlines.

“It’s a momentous occasion and it makes sense that these first flights connect with our two longest-standing partners, Montreal and Ottawa, where we have been serving these communities from Billy Bishop since 2006,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines.

Porter is the only airline building full route networks at both Toronto airports — Billy Bishop and Pearson. Porter will focus on regional flights via Billy Bishop and other top North American destinations at Pearson.

“We’re delighted that passengers travelling through Pearson can now avail themselves of Porter’s culture of prioritizing their customers,” said Janik Reigate, director of strategic customer relationships, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “And while this partnership begins today with the launch of two routes, this is just the beginning of a collaborative effort to bring more choice to our valued passengers.”

Passengers on today’s (Feb. 1) inaugural flights were greeted at the gates with in-flight service including Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, Sloane Fine Tea Merchants and Cookie It Up chocolate chip shortbread.

And everyone received $150 flight vouchers for future travel, and one lucky passenger on each flight won a round-trip for two to any Porter destination.

The Toronto-based carrier also offered $1 flights to a limited number of passengers for inaugural flights to new locations in February.

Porter is debuting the E195-E2 for North American travellers, featuring a 132-seat, all-economy, two-by-two configuration, and free, fast WiFi. Porter is the only airline with no middle seats on every flight, including its existing De Havilland Dash 8-400 fleet.

The airline has ordered up to 100 E195-E2s, including 50 firm deliveries scheduled to arrive over the next two years.

Service on the Toronto Pearson-Ottawa route begins with four daily, non-stop return flights. Service on the Montreal route begins with three daily, non-stop return flights and increases to four on Feb. 7.

Additional flights at Pearson begin this month, starting with Vancouver (Feb. 7), Edmonton (Feb. 14), Calgary (Feb. 22) and Halifax (Feb. 23).

The airline also intends to build a presence in key Eastern Canada cities – Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax – that will connect across the continent to the west coast, southern U.S., and the Caribbean.