Porter Airlines and Air Transat are both Canadian carriers outside any global alliance, and travellers weigh them up for Canada–US and sun-destination trips from Toronto, Montréal and Ottawa. Porter is a fast-growing jet and turboprop operator with a short-haul, full-service-style product. Air Transat is a Montréal-based leisure airline focused on Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America.
Quick verdict
Choose Porter for short and medium hops within Canada and to the US, where its free snacks, beer and wine, free Wi-Fi on the E195-E2 and city-centre Billy Bishop access make it easy to fly. Choose Air Transat for transatlantic and long leisure routes, where it has wide-body A330s and a Club Class cabin. Check the fare on both before booking, as Air Transat's lowest fares may include only a personal item and exclude meals.
Choose Porter Airlines if…
- You're flying within Canada or to the US and want complimentary snacks, beer and wine on every flight.
- You want Toronto Billy Bishop's downtown airport, its lounges and the free Union Station shuttle.
- You want free Wi-Fi on the E195-E2 and extra legroom through PorterClassic Stretch or PorterReserve.
Choose Air Transat if…
- You're flying a leisure route to Europe, Morocco, the Caribbean, Mexico or Central and South America from Montréal or Toronto.
- You want a Club Class cabin with gourmet meals on a long flight.
- You want the option to bundle a 23 kg checked bag, seat selection and priority services through Option Plus.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Porter's hubs are Ottawa, Toronto Billy Bishop and Toronto Pearson, with Halifax and Montréal-Trudeau as focus cities. It serves Canada and the US, and runs jets from Pearson to western and eastern Canada. Air Transat uses Montréal-Trudeau and Toronto-Pearson as main hubs, with Ottawa and Québec City as focus cities. It serves around 66 destinations in about 35 countries, mostly leisure routes to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America. Domestic Canada is Porter's strength; sun and Europe is Air Transat's.
Cabins and seats
Porter offers PorterReserve, a 2-2 premium cabin with 32 in pitch on the Dash 8-400 and 36 in on the E195-E2. Economy includes PorterClassic Stretch, with 34 in pitch in rows 5-7 and 36 in in the exit rows 13-14. Air Transat has Economy in several fare tiers and Club Class, flown on A330 and A321neo LR aircraft. Its Club Class has seatback screens on the A321neo LR, according to a Business Traveller review.
Baggage and fares
Porter's baggage allowance depends on the fare, so check flyporter.com before travel. Air Transat allowances vary by fare and route, and its lowest fares on some routes include only a personal item. Its Option Plus bundle adds a 23 kg checked bag, seat selection and priority services.
Food and entertainment
Porter serves complimentary snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine on all flights. E195-E2 flights over 150 minutes also offer fresh food, and PorterReserve passengers get a free meal on flights over 2.5 hours. There are no seatback screens, but the E195-E2 has free Wi-Fi. Air Transat meals depend on fare and route: Club Class includes gourmet meals, while basic fares on some routes exclude them. Expect to bring your own device unless you are in Club Class on the A321neo LR.
Loyalty, lounges and alliances
Neither airline belongs to an alliance. Porter's VIPorter points can be redeemed for flights, and its Billy Bishop terminal has two lounges. Porter has codeshare and partnership deals including Alaska Airlines and British Airways. Air Transat has no lounges of its own but sells access to selected partner lounges in Canada, such as the Air France lounge in Montréal. In January 2026 it announced a loyalty programme with Desjardins and Visa for the second half of 2026; check its site for launch details.
Frequently asked questions
Is Porter better than Air Transat?
It depends on the trip. Porter suits short Canada and US flights with free snacks, beer and wine. Air Transat suits long leisure routes such as Europe and the Caribbean, with wide-body aircraft and Club Class.
Does Porter include a checked bag?
It depends on the fare, so check the fare details on flyporter.com before you book.
Does Air Transat include checked baggage?
It varies by fare and route. Lowest fares on some routes include only a personal item. The Option Plus add-on includes one 23 kg checked bag, so check your fare before booking.
About Porter Airlines Read more
Overview
Porter Airlines is a Canadian airline. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 2 February 2006, began flying on 23 October 2006, and is headquartered at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. It is owned by Porter Aviation Holdings and is the third largest airline in Canada, behind Air Canada and WestJet. Porter is not a member of an airline alliance, although it has codeshare and partnership agreements, including with Alaska Airlines and British Airways.
Network and hubs
Hubs are Ottawa, Toronto Billy Bishop and Toronto Pearson, with Halifax and Montréal-Trudeau as focus cities. Jet flying began from Pearson in 2022 to western Canada (Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary) and to eastern Canada, alongside the Dash 8-400 flights from Billy Bishop, which does not permit jets. The network covers Canada and the United States, with Mexico and the Caribbean also part of its expansion plans. Wikipedia lists 32 destinations. Simple Flying reports scheduled capacity of 10.34 million seats in 2026, a record for the airline.
Fleet
As of Wikipedia's September 2026 retrieval, the fleet comprises 82 aircraft in service:
- 29 De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprops (78 seats, with a new cabin retrofit planned by 2026)
- 53 Embraer E195-E2 jets (132 seats), with 22 more on order
Porter was the North American launch customer for the E195-E2.
On board
- PorterReserve: premium seats in a 2-2 layout, with 32 in pitch on the Dash 8-400 and 36 in on the E195-E2. Beer, wine and upsized snacks are included, plus a free meal on flights over 2.5 hours.
- Economy: the E195-E2 offers PorterClassic Stretch seats with 34 in pitch (rows 5-7) and 36 in (exit rows 13-14).
- Complimentary snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine are served on all flights. Fresh food is offered on E195-E2 flights over 150 minutes.
- There are no seatback screens. Free Wi-Fi is available on the E195-E2.
Good to know
- Porter's loyalty programme is VIPorter, with points redeemable for flights.
- The Billy Bishop terminal has two lounges, and a free shuttle bus links the airport with Union Station in Toronto.
- Baggage allowances, change fees and punctuality figures were not confirmed from official sources for this profile. Check flyporter.com before travel.
About Air Transat Read more
Overview
Air Transat is a Canadian airline headquartered in Montreal. It was founded in December 1986 and began operating on 14 November 1987. It is owned and operated by Transat A.T. Inc. and is not a member of an alliance. Wikipedia reports 2025 revenue of CAN$3.398 billion and about 5,500 employees in 2026.
Network and hubs
The main hubs are Montréal–Trudeau and Toronto–Pearson, with Ottawa and Québec City as focus cities. According to Wikipedia, it serves 66 destinations in about 35 countries, mainly leisure routes between Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America and the United States, plus some domestic services.
Fleet
Wikipedia lists 42 aircraft registered with Transport Canada as of 11 April 2026. They are Airbus A321 variants (including A321neo LR) and A330s, with 13 A330-200s and 2 A330-300s. Four A321XLR aircraft are on order, with first delivery expected in late 2027. Engine problems on the Pratt & Whitney GTF powering its A321LR fleet led to groundings and wet-leasing from late 2023. Details are on the airline's fleet page.
On board
- Cabins: Economy and Club Class.
- Meals: included on many fares and routes, but not all; Club Class includes gourmet meals, according to Kayak.
- Entertainment: a Business Traveller review of A321neo LR Club Class mentions a 13.3-inch screen.
Good to know
- Baggage: allowances depend on fare and route. Lowest fares on flights to the South, the United States and within Canada may include only a personal item (Kayak). Check the fare before booking.
- Extras: Option Plus bundles one 23 kg checked bag, seat selection and priority airport services.
- Lounges: Air Transat has no lounges of its own but offers paid access to selected partner lounges in Canada (airline lounge page).
- Loyalty: a programme with Desjardins and Visa was announced in January 2026 for the second half of 2026. Check the airline's site for launch status.
- Safety: in 2001, Flight 236 glided to the Azores after a fuel leak, and all 306 on board survived.
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