by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 12:25 PM ET, Wed July 15, 2026
Just three short months after launching, Porter is pulling the plug on its Ottawa-Sudbury route. There were high hopes when the service started in May. At the time, Andrew Pierce, VP, Network Planning and Reporting, Porter Airlines called the route “the next step in building Ottawa into a stronger hub for Porter.”
The suspension of the flight puts an end to Porter’s 15 year history operating out of Sudbury. Porter cites low passenger volumes as the reason for ending the flight. “We were hopeful [daily flights] would lead to stronger performance, however, the results have not improved,” Porter told CBC.
Porter has expanded rapidly over the past three years and is choosing to focus on new opportunities and markets with strong demand, saying it will continue to let passenger preferences guide network decisions.
A statement from the Greater Sudbury Airport said it understood the decision was based on low passenger volumes and rising fuel costs but pointed to the success of other airlines at the airport. “Despite Porter Airline’s decision to suspend service largely due to route under performance, the Greater Sudbury Airport has seen strong load factors from Air Canada, WestJet, Bearskin Airlines, as well as continuous growth from Propair, our newest commercial airline who operates service to Ottawa and Montreal,” spokesperson Christopher Pollesel told CTV News.
The last Porter flight will operate Sept. 7, 2026. The airline will continue to serve Northern Ontario from Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie.
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