A Toronto-based airline has officially landed at North America’s top-ranked airport.
LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the manager and developer of LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, announced that Porter Airlines began operating from the terminal on Thursday, May 1.
Porter Airlines, headquartered at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, is the third-largest carrier in Canada, following Air Canada and WestJet. The airline is now offering three daily round-trip flights between LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
To mark its first day of operations, Porter Airlines was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute as its inaugural flight arrived from Toronto. Passengers departing from Terminal B were treated to complimentary refreshments and giveaways at the gate, while arriving travelers received a warm welcome from representatives of NYC Tourism.
L-R: Julie Coker (NYC Tourism), Stewart Steeves (Vantage Group), Kevin Jackson (Porter Airlines), Suzette Noble (LaGuardia Gateway Partners), Mike Giardino (Port Authority of NY and NJ), Nancy Mammano (NYC Tourism). Courtesy of LaGuardia Gateway Partners.
Thursday’s inaugural flight marks Porter Airlines’ official expansion into the New York City metropolitan market. Since 2008, the Canadian carrier has operated routes between Newark Liberty International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Stakeholders from LaGuardia Airport and Porter Airlines expressed enthusiasm about the airline’s growing presence in the region. Andrew Pierce, Vice President of Network Planning and Reporting at Porter Airlines, emphasized the strategic value of the expansion.
“By expanding access to a second major New York-area airport, we’re offering more convenience and increasing capacity for travellers,” he said. “The combination of Billy Bishop, Pearson, LaGuardia, and Newark is unique among airlines, providing a number of options for going back and forth between the two cities.”
Suzette Noble, CEO of LaGuardia Gateway Partners, welcomed the partnership. “It is with great excitement that we welcome Porter Airlines to LaGuardia Terminal B as our newest airline partner operating from our world-class facility. We look forward to collaborating with Porter in delivering exceptional travel experiences to its guests journeying to and from New York through our remarkable terminal gateway,” she said.
