The hot ticket to Florida this winter: Porter Airlines
Heading south for the winter is almost a rite of passage for Canadians. An annual pilgrimage to Florida for a beachy interlude just makes those winter months more bearable. But memory-making vacations start well before you get your feet in the sand, and for Florida flights, Porter Airlines is stepping up their game (and their flight network).
With six new Florida gateways from four Canadian airports, Porter is making it easier than ever to get from the Great White North to the Sunshine State. And onboard, you can actually enjoy economy—there are free premium snacks, free wine and beer in real glassware and no middle seats. Here’s why the hot ticket to Florida is with Porter Airlines.
Effortless since 2006
Porter Airlines took to the skies in 2006, establishing themselves quickly as a regional carrier with their speedy short-haul flights across Canada and the United States. Starting out of Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto with their small fleet of Dash 8-400 planes, they’ve really taken off since then. The airline distinguished themselves from other regional carriers with its elevated service experience.
From their first US bound flight to New York Newark Liberty International Airport in 2007 to the expansion to more than 35 destinations across North America, more than five million passengers have enjoyed economy flights on Porter Airlines.
Here they grow again
This year alone, Porter started flying to nine new destinations across North America from Toronto Pearson, including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Porter Airlines now touches down in all ten Canadian provinces from their Toronto homebase, plus eight U.S. states. Porter passengers can really enjoy elevated economy flying whether jetting off to San Francisco, Edmonton or Washington D.C. And they’re still a growing airline, bringing their effortless service to more new destinations.
In 2022, Porter Airlines added the new Embraer E195-E2 jets to their fleet, bringing the plane tally up to 71 aircraft currently (with more on the way). New, these more powerful planes allow for longer distance routes meaning that there are more routes with 2x2 seats, plus free fast Wi-Fi, free streaming services and Porter’s genuine hospitality.
(In)bound for Florida fun
The Sunshine State is a favourite for Canadians looking to swap out frigid winds for a surplus of beachy breezes. From amusement parks to flashy beach clubs, Porter Airlines can get you there with six destinations across Florida. Toronto Pearson is Porter’s main thoroughfare for Florida fun, with nonstop flights to Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach. Haligonians will appreciate the direct flights to Tampa and Orlando, while passengers in Ottawa can fly direct to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers. Montreal’s direct flights take off non-stop to Fort Lauderdale.
Florida’s beaches and sunny weather are undoubtedly the biggest draw for Canadians (those snowbirds are on to something). There are more than 1000 kilometres of beaches in the state: white sand, a rainbow of umbrellas and palm trees stretch along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic coast. But there’s so much more to discover and enjoy besides the shoreline. Head to Miami, also known as the Magic City, for high-end restaurants, art deco architecture and famous Botanical Gardens. In West Palm Beach, stroll down the palm-lined streets for the best shopping in the state. Antiques Row has more than 40 shops with furniture and treasures from the 17th to the 20th centuries, while Worth Avenue has the high-end boutiques.
Tick off that bucket list family vacation with Orlando’s many theme parks, or head to Tampa’s amusement parks for roller coaster thrills. Fort Lauderdale is the yachting capital of the world, so there are endless opportunities for boating through its series of canals. The River District in Fort Myers, sitting on the Gulf Coast, has a myriad of shops, restaurants and art galleries.
Everyone gets the special treatment
Stepping onto a Porter plane feels different (and there’s a reason for that). They were named Best Regional Airline in North America for 2024 in the Skytrax World Airline Awards program and were voted as having the Best Economy Class by USA Today. Porter was ranked first out of 20 airlines from around the world. Porter is also an Official 4 Star Airline in the World Airline Star Rating.
Porter’s motto, “actually enjoy economy”, reflects their commitment to providing great customer service. The Porter Experience is all about bringing us back to a time when flying was a pleasant part of the journey, not just a means of transportation. Gone are the days when you might be squished between two seatmates–there are no middle seats on their planes! Plus, there are complimentary premium snacks like tamari almonds or milk chocolate shortbread, along with free Canadian craft beers and wines (served in actual glassware).
On their long haul routes to Florida (or anywhere else they fly), Porter passengers have the option to purchase delicious healthy meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner from a seasonal menu. Savour a fruit and cheese plate for breakfast, curated by famed fromagerie Cheese Boutique in Toronto, or dine on a grilled chicken bowl for lunch. Pair your meal with free streaming entertainment on your device, a feature on all Porter’s E195-E2 jets.