Air Transat & Porter Plan Canadian Joint Venture

This is the best lemonade they could make. When Porter gets permission to use jets at YTZ, or when they join an alliance, or when they develop a meaningful loyalty program or when they implement premium cabins they'll have a shot at greatness. They've already built public affection for the brand, but only among civilians. Anyone into loyalty points ignores them. As for Transat, they're very set in their ways. They're a basic leisure airline with lots of planes, established markets and practices, unlikely to make big changes, even for survival. Transat is big and boring. Porter is interesting but frustrating. Meanwhile Canada has only one airline in any alliance, which is absurd for the size of its aviation market. If Porter had permission for jets at Toronto Island YTZ when they first asked, a decade ago, they might be in oneworld by now, although I'm not sure they see the value in that. Seriously their slogan right now is "actually enjoy economy". Sigh

I thought Porter was focused on connecting Toronto with US business markets

While Air Transat may not be perceived as premium by some of the American markets it hopes to tap into with Porter, the average Canadian economy flyer generally has a positive perception of the brand compared to Sunwing, Flair, or the late Swoop and Rouge. Most fares include a checked bag & the economy experience is comparable to WS/AC.

Meanwhile Canada has only one airline in any alliance, which is absurd for the size of its aviation market.

Is it though?

The entire country has a smaller population than just the state of California, and similar levels of air service; but only one full-service nationwide carrier.

WS isn't just a LoCo anymore, but also hasn't gone all-in on longhaul connection service; nor shown any interest in joining SkyTeam despite being partners with DL for 13yrs and AF for nearly 7.

What else is there?

Canada's population surpassed 40 million last year, and continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the developed world.

West Jet's problem is that it doesn't know what it wants to be. On one hand they want to preserve their low cost routes but on the other they are trying to show that they are a global airline now. The end result is that when you fly with them you feel like you are paying major carrier prices but getting a low cost carrier experience.

It's a shame because when they decide to make the investments you can see that if they wanted to they could give AC a run for its money. Their flagship Elevation Lounge in YYC is excellent and in my opinion is the best lounge in Canada right now. They just seem timid to make the full leap from ex-LCC to major airline.

Or they're right not to. It's not in Westjet's DNA to be a full-service carrier, in an alliance, with aspirational redemptions in premium classes. On reflection, I think CondordeBoy's challenge to me, above, is right. Canada is a backwater of bargainhunters. Airlines have plenty of data to support the decisions they make, including not offering First Class to Canadians. CX and JL offer F in ORD but not in YYZ, despite Toronto being a bigger, richer population area than Chicago. Why? Because oneworld. Because AA. Sterile Transit would fix this. AAFAIK in North America, only YVR has it.

Sterile Transit would fix this. AAFAIK in North America, only YVR has it.

PTY has international-to-international sterile transit.

Haven't been in a while, but used it quite a bit for LAX to Colombia, pre-Covid.

WS problem though is that they indicate that they want to become a full service airline though they never make the full leap. It goes back to my point that they want to be all things to all people and it comes across as them lacking a specific direction. They need to pick one and stick with it, which they aren't doing now.

Actually Chicago has a higher concentration of wealth than Toronto which explains why airlines prioritize offering F there. There isn't enough of a market in Toronto.
https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/toronto-among-global-cities-with-the-most-millionaires/369798

If sterile transit were ever to become a thing Toronto might (emphasis on the word "might") make sense for the Star Alliance airlines that offer F. Being an AC hub you could have people connecting off AC flights onto F flights with one of their partners. This is unlikely to happen any time soon so it boils down to the market for F, which is smaller in YYZ than it is in ORD.

Absolute CRAP! When I try to get to Montreal (RESTAURANT SCENE) I PAY A FORTUNE because of how bad the market in Canada is with NO COMPETITION. SO NOW THE AIRLINES GANGING UP ON PEOPLE????? WHAT A JOKE

Gee, maybe we'll get some more flights out of Halifax. Last year WestJet flew nonstop to Europe from Halifax. (I flew them roundtrip to Paris. Service was minimal and unprofessional. And there was no Business Class. But hey, I didn't have to fly two hours west to Toronto or Montreal, sit for several hours and then fly east again.) This year WestJet announced they would not be flying to Europe from Nova Scotia, and in fact, were basically pulling-out of Halifax to focus on the western half of Canada. So any increase of service by Porter, with connections to Air Transat's international flights would be very welcome here!

First of all Porter has the worst customer service on par with many of the other Canadian airlines. They have no qualms of stranding you in another city and canceling the last flight due to a light load. They promise hotel reimbursement then reneg, and list the cancellation as mechanical to try and avoid paying. Transit is a leasure/lcc. This JV is pretty meaningless to most travelers. Both offer limited fleets with limited flights on the international, and both have poor reputations if you are caught in an irop. In the race to the bottom of the customer service ladder in Canada, Porter in my experience actually beats AC and WS.

9-abreast A330s though. At the same time their A321LRs are golden. Their Club Class is a steal.

Porter seems pretty determined to turn into a LCC lately so at this point Air Transat would fit them like a glove. Air Transat will be the new medium haul, long haul, and snowbird arm of Porter and vice versa. Maybe they could have airside bus transfers between YTZ and YYZ or something to make the connections seamless.

Booked last year out of Halifax to Punta Cana with Air Transat partner flight Porter out of Halifax to Connect in Toronto.They canceled both and the flights were listed for sale for same flights individually! I like Air Transat however they lost 2 Guests.

Porter is now flying from Toronto to Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale. The new Embraers have a range of over 4,000 kms

AirTransat is a great airline, great inflight service and mostly on time! Since I don't like to fly on small planes, Porter is of no interest to me.

Unfortunately Canada is attracting the wrong immigrants, it's no more the country I was proud to call home.

Canada is a very large country with major population centers spread across. It's difficult to run an airline in such conditions profitable.
Fares are higher compared to the USA, due to low population spread over a large territory.