Porter partners with Alaska Airlines in newly announced deal

Porter Airlines has partnered with Alaska Airlines in a new deal that looks to expand the destinations offered by the Canadian carrier across the continent.

The new agreement announced on Wednesday means that travellers can now purchase combined Porter-Alaska itineraries either directly from Porter’s website or through third party agencies.

It is a move that will open access to 18 cities in the western U.S. through Alaska’s hubs in Los Angeles and San Francisco to Porter’s home base in Eastern Canada, the airline said.

This will also widen the gate to a large part of Canada for Americans west of the Mississippi River.

We’re teaming up with @AlaskaAir to unlock more of the U.S. West Coast for our passengers, providing more options & better service when you fly coast to coast

Read more about the new interline agreement ➡️ https://t.co/NlQFzRBmzb#flyporter #porterairlines #alaskaairlines pic.twitter.com/MxiD0ylpL0

— Porter Airlines (@porterairlines) December 13, 2023

The carriers say Porter flights from Toronto to California are expected to begin in January, with further connections through Canadian airports planned for early in the new year.

The new deal comes two weeks after a “joint venture” between Porter and Air Transat was announced, where it would allow for each to expand the destinations offered, tap into each other’s markets and ear up to take on the country’s largest carrier, Air Canada.

READ MORE: Canadian airlines last for on-time arrivals in North America: report

Toronto-based Porter will have newfound access to Europe and sunny southern getaways that Air Transat currently serves.

All the while the package trips-focused airline based out of Montreal will gain access to Porter’s growing network throughout Canada and the United States.

Just one day after news of the venture, Porter announced that it had purchased 25 new Embrader Jets after previously ordering 50 E195-E2 narrow-bodies.

The airline also holds purchase rights on 25 more of the 132-seat planes, bringing its total fleet to 100 jets by 2027 and making it the largest domestic rival to Air Canada east of the prairies.

Porter plans to grow its fleet to 79 by 2025, up from its current 50.

Rising competition in the Canadian airline industry has reduced average fares for domestic flights, as well as some sun destination trips since 2019.

This report was created with files from The Canadian Press