Why Flying This Airline to The Canadian Maritimes Was the Best Decision I Made

We flew from Calgary to Halifax (via Ottawa and Montreal respectively) and were blown away by the stellar experience from take-off to touch down.

From courteous ground crew (imagine being given a hand to place heavy luggage onto the checked luggage carousel at check-in!), exceptional on-board service with friendly attendants happy to pass out snacks and beverages, or turn on the heat when it gets cold, or just stop by your seat for a quick chat about their favourite secret, must-visit bakery in small town Nova Scotia.

Porter Airlines debuted in 2006 and an ever-growing expansion has made the Canadian airline a popular choice for travellers seeking to explore their own backyard the US, Mexico and the Caribbean. For leisure travellers, it means more choice and fierce competition (with a cute racoon face, of course). For business travellers it’s another reason to propel the company to the top of the frequent flyers’ list.

Do you remember flying in the days when a light snack and refreshing drink was just the treat you looked forward to? When you didn’t feel packed into a sardine can? When flying was actually fun, crew were courteous and people upgraded you, just because? All of the little things make airplane travel that much better.

First, no middle seats on the aircraft means that you’re always in a window or an aisle seat. No worrying about feeling like a third wheel, so you can enjoy the pretty views in super plush reclinable seats and get some shut eye. The airline offers everyone premium snacks and drinks (even in PorterClassic’s ‘economy’ cabin) from a selection of Canadian brands like delicious buttery Cookie It Up shortbread, protein packed naturSource almonds and more, alongside both alcohol (beer, wine) and non-alcohol beverages and water, pop and juice. Oh, and did we mention, guests are served in real glassware? No plastic here, so you can feel like a real human and have a real-world sustainability impact. Plus, for those glued to their phones, there’s complimentary Wi-Fi. And, for guests who choose upgraded PorterReserve seats? There’s extra legroom, checked bags, and flight change options. Plus, a selection of delicious healthy meal options (for flights more than 2.5 hours) which for us came in the form of overnight oats and Greek yogurt, served with a fresh fruit bowl for breakfast or Asian noodle salad with chicken and cake for dessert.

More than anything though, in the cynical world we live in, when a company ethos (in Porter’s case: ‘actually enjoy economy’), is the foundation of the experience in practice, permeating every level of a business, and able to be felt by the consumer, it ought to be celebrated. Dare we say it? We can’t wait for our next Porter flight.

This original article first appeared in the WINTER 2025 2026 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.

---