Porter’s 50th Embraer E195-E2: Why It Matters

Porter Airlines just quietly crossed a major milestone. If you’re a Canadian traveller, this is one of those aviation stories that is super exciting.

As of December 23, 2025, Porter has taken delivery of its 50th Embraer E195-E2, reaching the halfway mark toward a possible 100-aircraft fleet. While the number itself may not seem exciting, what it enables for Canadian travellers absolutely is.

More planes. More routes. More competition. All of this means cheaper prices, which is great for Canadians.

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From Regional Favourite to North American Disruptor

Porter received its very first E195-E2 back in December 2022, and the growth since then has been nothing short of aggressive (in a good way).

In just three years, the airline has transformed from a primarily regional Canadian carrier into one of North America’s fastest-growing airlines, using the E2 as the backbone of its expansion.

That growth now includes:

• Coast-to-coast Canada 🇨🇦
• Major U.S. cities 🇺🇸
• Sun destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America 🌴

And crucially, Porter hasn’t abandoned what made people love the airline in the first place.

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The Porter Experience: Still Elevated

One of the most impressive things about Porter’s E2 strategy is that it didn’t come with the usual airline caveat of “premium… for a fee.”

Every passenger, on every E195-E2 flight, still gets:

• No middle seats (2-2 layout across the cabin)
• Complimentary beer and wine served in real glassware
• Tasty snacks
• Streaming-quality Wi-Fi
• In-seat power

In a market where “basic economy” keeps getting more basic, Porter continues to impress me with their offerings.

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Why the Embraer E195-E2 Matters

The E195-E2 isn’t just a nice cabin…it’s a strategic weapon.

This aircraft offers:

• Up to 29% lower fuel burn than previous-generation jets
• A range of ~5,500 km, enabling nonstop flights across North America
• One of the quietest cabins in its class
• Advanced fly-by-wire systems and modern avionics

Translation? Porter can profitably fly routes that don’t have enough demand for larger jets, which is exactly how you end up with more nonstop flights from smaller Canadian cities, instead of always connecting through Toronto.

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Sun Routes, But Make Them Porter

With the arrival of its 50th E2, Porter has doubled down on sunshine flying without turning into a typical leisure airline.

This season alone, Porter launched 13 new routes to five popular warm-weather destinations:

• Cancun
• Puerto Vallarta
• Nassau
• Grand Cayman
• Liberia, Costa Rica

Departing from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Hamilton, these routes are a clear signal that Porter isn’t just testing leisure markets. It’s committing to them.

I love this as a fellow Canadian traveller, as this means more flight options!

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What This Means for Canadian Jetsetters

This milestone isn’t just about Porter. It’s about greater competition in the Canadian aviation market.

Porter’s expansion is quietly reshaping what Canadians can expect from short and medium-haul flying, and it’s happening faster than many people realize.

If this pace continues, Canadian travellers are about to have more choice and more nonstop options than they’ve had in years.