Porter Airlines will upgauge to the Embraer E195-E2 to operate three domestic eastern Canada routes from Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Nova Scotia, demonstrating the carrier is open to using the aircraft on shorter-range flights where demand warrants.

Porter, which is based at Toronto Billy Bishop Airport, began taking delivery of E195-E2s in December 2022. Transcontinental domestic routes from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), as well as a number of U.S. transborder services starting this month, have garnered attention as the formerly eastern-Canada-focused carrier significantly expands its reach.

But with a total of 75 firm orders for the 132-seat E195-E2, as well as 25 more options, it appears the aircraft will also be utilized to bump up capacity on routes now operated by the 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400, which had been the mainstay of the airline’s fleet before the Embaer jets began to be delivered.

The airline has taken delivery of around 25 E195-E2s and still has about 25 Dash 8-400s in service.

From March 31, 2024, Porter will switch from the Dash 8-400 to the E195-E2 on 3X-daily service between YHZ and Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). On the same date, it will begin using the aircraft on 2X-daily service from YZH to both YUL and St. John's International Airport (YYT) in Newfoundland and Labrador. Both routes will rise to 3X-daily E195-E2 service in May 2024.

All three Halifax routes are less than 1,000 mi., in contrast to the 2,500-mi.-range transcontinental flights and 1,500-mi.-range routes to Florida destinations Porter is flying with the E195-E2.

“We’re seeing continuing strong demand for Porter’s unique product across eastern Canada,” CCO Kevin Jackson says in a statement. “Increasing capacity in these markets from Halifax will provide more access for passengers looking to travel with ease across our full North American network. Porter has been serving Halifax since 2007, and this reaffirms our ongoing commitment to the airport and the community.”

Air Canada Rouge, the LCC subsidiary of the Canadian flag-carrier, operates on the YHZ-YUL route. Air Canada Express service operated by PAL Airlines is available on both the YHZ-YOW and YYZ-YYT routes.

YHZ CEO Joyce Carter says Porter is “increasing capacity on routes that have been underserved since the pandemic. Using the Embraer E195-E2 jet aircraft on these three routes will provide our passengers with more opportunities.”

Porter says the Dash 8-400s now being used on the three Halifax routes “will be redeployed to increase frequencies in other markets.”