In another coup for Kelowna International Airport -- and the flying public -- Porter Airlines is coming to the Okanagan.
Starting May 14, 2025, Porter will fly between Kelowna and Toronto five times weekly.
And then, on June 23, the flight frequency will be bumped up to daily.
A quick search on the Porter website shows a one-way flight between Kelowna and Toronto starts at $151.
That's the basic fare that doesn't include a carry-on for the overhead compartment, charges $40 for a checked bag, charges $12 for seat selection, allows no changes and accepts a printed boarding pass only (no electronic boarding pass).
You can only bring a personal item on board, like a backpack or purse, that will fit under the seat in front of you.
The standard fare, which starts at $177 each way, allows one carry-on bag to go in the overhead compartment.
"Our presence in Western Canada (Porter also flies Victoria-Toronto and Vancouver to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) continues to grow and more travellers can now enjoy their trip as soon as they get onboard the aircraft with Porter's award-winning elevated economy experience," said Edmond Eldebs, Porter's senior vice-president and chief commercial officer.
"Travellers will appreciate direct access to Kelowna's mountainous landscapes and all the beauty that the Okanagan Valley has to offer. It's a true year-round destination that will benefit from improved connections to Eastern Canada."
Toronto may very well be the destination for travellers from Kelowna, but the timing of the flight also means there's the option of connecting flights with Porter to Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St. John's.
The flight leaves Toronto at 9:15 am and arrives in Kelowna at 10:55 am and then the plane turns around to depart Kelowna at 11:50 am and land in Toronto at 7 pm.
All times are local and remember Toronto is in the time zone three hours ahead, so the flight between Kelowna and Toronto comes in at four hours and 10 minutes.
Porter will use its Brazil-built, narrow-body, 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 jet on the route.
Porter praises the plane for having the lowest fuel consumption per seat and per trip in its class and as the quietest, single-aisle jet flying today.
The jet is configured with two seats either side of the aisle, so there's never a middle seat on a Porter flight.
Porter has competition on the Kelowna-Toronto route.
Both Air Canada and WestJet have daily flights between the two cities.
"As Kelowna continues to grow, this expansion reflects the increasing appeal of our city and reinforces the ongoing development of YLW as a key gateway to the Okanagan," said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas.
"This new direct flight...(creates) more opportunities for tourism and economic growth while offering seamless and efficient travel options for residents and visitors alike."
Porter touts that its onboard experience includes complimentary beer and wine served in real glasses, snacks and free, fast-streaming WiFi.
"Porter Airlines' decision to expand its services to Kelowna is a significant achievement for our community," said Kelowna airport CEO Sam Samaddar.
"This new route not only enhances connectivity between Kelowna and Toronto, but also opens up new opportunities for tourism and business in the Okanagan Valley. We are excited to welcome Porter Airlines to Kelowna and look forward to the positive impact this partnership will bring."
Porter Airlines started in 2006 offering flights out of Toronto's downtown Billy Bishop Airport on turboprop planes to other cities in Ontario and Quebec.
It still operates out of Billy Bishop, but it now also flys in and out of Toronto's Pearson International.
Porter serves 22 cities across Canada -- Toronto (hub), Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, St. John's, Deer Lake, Timmins, Sudbury, Sault St. Marie, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna.
It also flies to 16 US destinations -- Chicago, Washington DC, New York-Newark, Boston, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Palm Springs, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Kelowna International Airport has non-stop flights with various airlines to 20 cities -- Vancouver, Victoria, Comox, Nanaimo, Seattle, Prince George, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas and seasonal summer flights to Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon.
