In 2021, Porter Airlines placed an order for up to 80 Embraer E195-E2 jets. Late last year, the airline started taking delivery of the new jets, and since then, it has launched a number of new routes featuring the aircraft, largely from Toronto Pearson (YYZ).
Today, Porter Airlines announced that it’s placing a firm order for 25 more E195-E2 jets, adding to the 50 existing firm orders, of which 24 are currently in service.
Porter Airlines Orders 25 Embraer E195-E2 Jets
2023 has been a pivotal year for Toronto-based Porter Airlines, as the airline has taken delivery of 24 Embraer E195-E2 jets and deployed them on new routes across Canada and the United States.
The airline will continue to take delivery of the 50 jets with firm orders into next year, and as of 2025, Porter will continue on this trajectory, as it has placed a firm order for an additional 25 jets. This brings the total number of firm orders to 75, with purchase rights for 25 more aircraft remaining.
The deal is valued at $2.1 billion (USD) at list price, and adds to the airline’s existing fleet of De Haviland aircraft that primarily operate out of Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ).
Since taking delivery of the new jets, Porter Airlines has focused its expansion efforts out of Toronto Pearson (YYZ), and has also deployed some aircraft on routes out of Ottawa (YOW). The airline has indicated that it plans to offer new service out of Halifax (YHZ) and Montreal (YUL), and we’re likely to hear route announcements from these cities as more aircraft arrive.
Furthermore, Porter is developing a new terminal at Montreal’s Saint-Hubert Airport, located in Longueuil. It’s expected to be operational by mid-2025, and at that point, passengers will have an alternative to the much larger primary airport, Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
Is Porter Disrupting Canadian Aviation?
With a flurry of new route announcements and a constant drip of new aircraft joining its fleet, Porter Airlines has been in Canadian aviation headlines a lot these days.
Just this week, it announced an expanded codeshare agreement and the launch of a joint venture with Air Transat, which is set to roll out during 2024.
What’s certain is that Porter Airlines is on an ambitious path, and with a firm order for 25 more aircraft, it must be happy with the results so far, and is setting its sights on continued growth in the years to come.
Porter Airlines brands itself as a disruptor amongst Canadian and North American airlines, with catchy taglines promising that passengers will actually enjoy flying economy again.
With a 2-2 configuration on the all-economy aircraft guaranteeing nobody will be stuck in a middle seat, complimentary Wi-Fi for all passengers on the Embraer E195-E2 jets, and free beer and wine served in glassware, it’s fair to say that Porter’s baseline offering is a step up from that on many mainline and low-cost carriers.
Previously, Porter’s route network was limited to select cities in Eastern Canada and the United States.
However, the airline’s reach is now much broader, as it now serves cities across Canada (Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, to name a few), as well as a growing list of US destinations (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Miami, to name a few).
Many other cities in Canada and the US are also slated as potential destinations for new service, and even the Bahamas.
However, the range for the Embraer E195-E2 jet spans around 2,500 miles, which in theory, puts most of North America within the realm of possibility. Noticeably absent from any route announcements thus far are popular leisure spots in Mexico and the Caribbean, but it’s likely that those will come into fruition at some point, too.
As the airline grows, it’ll be fascinating to see if an increasing number of travellers opt for an elevated economy experience for short- and medium-haul flights, when the comfort of a lie-flat seat or a more premium experience might not be necessary or warranted.
When I fly across Canada, I tend to prefer flying in premium economy with Air Canada, since I have some extra space to work, and get a hot meal and drinks, if the occasion calls for it. Otherwise, on shorter-haul domestic or transborder flights, I’m fine in economy for a few hours.
However, I’ve been plenty keen to give Porter’s “premium” economy experience a shot, to see how it stacks up compared to a bonafide premium economy flight. And since I now have the option to fly direct from Victoria or Vancouver to Toronto, it won’t be hard to find an occasion to try it out.
In this sense, I suppose that Porter has already disrupted my decision-making process, in that I’m routinely considering something above and beyond my go-to preference to fly with Air Canada. Whether or not that translates into changed flying habits remains to be seen, but I’m certainly glad to give it an honest shot.
Conclusion
Porter Airlines has placed a firm order for 25 additional Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. This adds to the existing firm order for 50, and the airline also has purchase rights to another 25 aircraft, which would bring the total to 100.
It’ll continue to take delivery of the initial batch of aircraft throughout 2024, and the new firm order for 25 more aircraft will start showing up in 2025.
With a new terminal being built in Montreal, a steady stream of new route announcements, and even a joint venture with Air Transat, Porter Airlines continues its expansion in Canada and beyond.