Canada's PACL completes certification, launches

 Porter Airlines (Canada) Limited (PACL) - a new sister airline to Canada's Porter Airlines (PAI) - plans to launch international services to sun destinations in the United States in the summer of 2023, targeting major cities in California, Florida, and Nevada.

A regulatory filing with the Department of Transportation (DOT) on January 31, 2023, reveals that PACL received its air operator's certificate (AOC) from Transport Canada and its operating license for non-scheduled international service from the Canadian Transportation Agency on January 20, 2023.

Now, PACL has applied for an exemption and a US foreign air carrier permit for scheduled and charter services of persons, property, and mail.

The startup launched intra-Canadian service on February 1, 2023, with transborder service to the first US destinations of Los Angeles International and Las Vegas Harry Reid to commence in late spring/early summer 2023, as soon as all necessary government approvals are received. Other US destinations planned for summer 2023 include Orlando International, Fort Lauderdale International, and San Francisco, CA.

As the North American launch customer of Embraer's E195-E2, PACL's US services are to complement PAI's existing flights between Toronto City Centre and major US cities. "The E195-E2 will enable PACL to expand well beyond PAI's geographic range, putting the entire continental US in reach," the airline said. This followed the certification of the E195-E2 by Transport Canada on December 15, 2022.

According to the filing, PAI's existing executive team also manages PACL, including industry stalwart Robert (Bob) Deluce (Executive Chairman) and son Michael Deluce (President and Chief Executive Officer). Both airlines' services are marketed under the "Porter" brand. The sister companies share operational functions such as technology, routes, maintenance, dispatch, customer service, loyalty programmes, and, eventually, codeshares and interline agreements. Both airlines' flights are operated under one IATA code (PD) and sold on the same website and through travel agents.

As a privately-held Canadian company, PACL has exercised its rights under Canadian law to withhold commercially sensitive information from public disclosure, including the ownership structure of Porter Airlines Holding, Inc. (PAHI), PACL's initial capitalisation and financial statements.

CH Aviation