‘A new era of growth, innovation, and opportunity,’ says Andrea Horwath, as Porter Airlines expands service to Hamilton

Porter Airlines has announced the expansion of service to Hamilton.

Big changes are coming to Hamilton airport as it enters a new strategic partnership with Porter Airlines.

On Tuesday, the Canadian airline announced that it will begin by offering daily non-stop flights out of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Mount Hope to Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, and Vancouver. The new routes are set to start in June.

Porter’s new presence in Hammertown will also result in a number of enhancements to the airport, including new expanded exterior frontage and interior terminal upgrades. For the first time ever, passenger jet bridges will be installed at the airport later this year, officials annouced during a Tuesday morning news conference.

This new partnership aims to position Hamilton International Airport for continued growth, said George Casey, the president and CEO of Vantage Airport Group, who called today’s news a “significant milestone in (its) long-term growth and success.” Vantage owns TradePort International Corp., which has managed Hamilton International Airport since 1996.

“We are very, very excited about this partnership, and in particular in Porter, Vantage, the City of Hamilton, and indeed, the entire community, has found a like-minded partner that shares our enthusiasm for the tremendous growth of the greater Hamilton region and the airport’s critical role as a catalyst of this transformation,” he said.

Currently, three carriers offers limited passenger service from Hamilton airport. A number of discount airlines have come and gone from there over the years. The most recent one is Play airlines out of Iceland, however the carrier is ending service out of Hamilton in April.

Casey, meanwhile, went on to say that this new opportunity wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the signing of a new $400 million deal between the City of Hamilton and Trade Port last September, which result in upgraded passenger and cargo transportation at the airport over the next 49 years.

Porter Airlines CEO Michael Deluce said the airline is making a “strong commitment to serving Hamilton.”

He said that the new economy service Porter will be offering to customers in Hamilton would provide customers “highly competitive pricing for a far superior product and an enjoyable passenger experience for everyone who travels with us.”

“Porter is leading the way in removing the main points of economy travel by focusing on making the experience more enjoyable. We provide a level of onboard service and amenities to every economy passenger that is unmatched by any airline in North America that includes more space,” he said, adding Porter is the only airline that can claim that it has no middle seats.

Deluce added that the terminal improvements compliment the service they intend to provide to passengers flying in and out of Hamilton airport.

“This is a start of a route network. In order to get there, though, we need to collectively make this first step a success,” he said.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said the city is about to “take off into a new era of growth, innovation and opportunity” as it solidifies this new relationship.

“Porter Airlines is known for exceptional service and innovation, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to our city,” she said.

“This new partnership is more than just a game changer for our airport. It’s a game changer for our entire community.”

Horwath noted that Hamilton is already a “key logistic corridor” as its airport is home to Ontario’s largest overnight cargo hub along with the city’s deep-water port, which she said “keeps trade moving across Canada and around the globe.”

“Today, we add another exciting chapter to that story, one that takes passenger air service to new heights and marks a defining milestone in Hamilton’s status as a transportation and logistics super hub.”

Hamilton’s mayor added that this new lease agreement and all that flows from it is the result of a decade of hard work.

“We are delighted to welcome Porter Airlines to Hamilton International as a strategic airline partner, as we invest in the success of our airport today and well into the future,” Cole Horncastle, Executive Managing Director, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, said in a news release.

“Porter’s elevated economy service, on-board experience and air service connecting passengers to and from key destinations across Canada are a perfect fit for the stress-free, convenient airport experience we offer here at Hamilton International.”

Porter flights in and out of Hamilton International Airport are now available for purchasing online.

Headquartered at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, Porter Airlines has a number of hub locations, including one at Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, which it started flying out of Terminal 3 in July 2021.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s John Musselman

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