Porter Airlines to Launch Austin–Toronto Flights and Shift Chicago Service to O’Hare in 2026
New routes bring Porter into Austin for the first time and reposition its Chicago access
Porter Airlines is expanding its North American footprint with a new U.S. destination in Austin and a major adjustment to its Chicago-area service, adding capacity and altering where passengers land in the region. The changes span three routes and two Toronto airports, with start dates running from May through September 2026.
The carrier is set to begin year-round service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on May 21, 2026. The operation is scheduled five times weekly and will be flown with Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The addition makes Porter a new entrant airline at AUS and establishes a nonstop link from Central Texas to Canada’s largest airport and a major international connecting gateway.
Austin–Toronto: year-round service tied to international connectivity goals
For Austin, the new route adds a nonstop option to a top Canadian market and is positioned as part of the airport’s continued effort to broaden international connectivity. For Porter, the service extends the airline’s growing reach in the U.S. while feeding its Toronto Pearson hub, where passengers can connect onward to destinations across Canada.
- Route: Austin (AUS) – Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
- Start date: May 21, 2026
- Frequency: 5x weekly, year-round
- Aircraft: Embraer E195-E2
Chicago change: Porter moves Toronto City flights from Midway to O’Hare
In the Chicago market, Porter will shift its flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) away from Chicago Midway (MDW) and instead serve Chicago O’Hare (ORD) beginning Sept. 1, 2026. The airline has indicated the move will raise frequency to three flights per day, placing the service at Chicago’s primary airport and aligning it with a broader strategy of network growth and schedule complementarity through its hubs.
- Route: Toronto City (YTZ) – Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Start date: Sept. 1, 2026
- Frequency: 3x daily
- Aircraft: De Havilland Dash 8-400
The Chicago move is also linked to the operational benefits expected from a U.S. preclearance facility planned to open at Billy Bishop in the near term, which can affect how passengers process U.S.-bound travel from downtown Toronto.
Additional network detail: new seasonal Ottawa–Deer Lake service
Separately, Porter will launch seasonal service between Ottawa and Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador, on June 10, 2026, operating five times weekly with Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The route complements existing Porter service to Deer Lake from Toronto Pearson and Halifax.
Collectively, the Austin launch and the Chicago airport shift underscore an emphasis on adding routes that can support both point-to-point demand and connecting traffic, while rebalancing service toward larger hubs and higher-frequency schedules.