Porter Airlines inaugurates historic service between Vancouver and Phoenix
Porter Airlines takes another major step in its North American expansion with the launch of a direct route between Vancouver and Phoenix. The route, inaugurated in winter 2026, represents a first for the Canadian company, marking its first cross-border connection from the country's west coast. Operating daily until April, this new service promises to facilitate access to sunny Arizona for travelers from Western Canada.
Porter's first cross-border step from Western Canada
The seasonal service links Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), the main airport of the Arizona metropolis. The flights, lasting around three hours, are positioned in a market already served by other carriers, but Porter Airlines is banking on a distinctive cabin product to differentiate itself. Andrew Pierce, Porter's Vice President Network Planning and Reporting, emphasizes the importance of this new route: «Being able to offer travelers more convenient options to get from Vancouver is a pivotal moment for Porter.» He adds: «This route makes Phoenix's unique desert and mountain landscape more accessible to western passengers, and offers seamless connections to other US destinations via our codeshare partner, American Airlines.»
This initiative marks a strategic turning point for Porter Airlines, which is accelerating its expansion beyond its historic strongholds of Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. The company already serves Phoenix from Toronto-Pearson, and plans to add a seasonal route from Ottawa, making Arizona an important part of its «sunshine» network.
Phoenix, a booming sun destination
For Phoenix airport, the arrival of Porter Airlines reinforces the importance of the Canadian market, historically fed by a strong clientele of vacationers and snowbirds escaping winter. Chad Makovsky, the city's Director of Aviation, is delighted with this expansion: «We are delighted with Porter's growth in the Phoenix market. Their partnership and commitment means travelers have more, high-quality and convenient options between Phoenix and Canada.»
A reinvented travel experience with the Embraer E195-E2
The flights are operated by the Embraer E195-E2, a new-generation aircraft that Porter is gradually deploying on its transcontinental and cross-border routes. The 132-seat cabin features no center seat and a 2-2 configuration, offering superior comfort to conventional single-aisle aircraft on the market. Porter Airlines emphasizes a «premium economy» experience with quality snacks, complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, and free Wi-Fi for all passengers.
PorterReserve: comfort and flexibility
Travellers opting for the PorterReserve benefit from exclusive services: fresh meals, extra legroom, flexible flight change conditions, two pieces of checked baggage and dedicated check-in. For those who prefer to personalize their trip, the PorterClassic allows you to purchase these services à la carte.
Phoenix, a strategic hub for connections with American Airlines
Beyond the point-to-point traffic between British Columbia and Arizona, Phoenix becomes a key connection point for Porter's strategy in Western North America. Thanks to its code-share agreement with American Airlines, Porter Airlines offers flight extensions from Phoenix to destinations such as Tucson and San Diego, and more widely to the American Airlines domestic network.
As Porter Airlines, historically centered on Toronto-Billy Bishop with a fleet of turboprops, enters a new era with the E195-E2 and the opening of numerous cross-border routes, the Vancouver-Phoenix route symbolizes this gradual rise in the power of western operations, alongside other projects for sun destinations.
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