Porter Airlines, a Canadian carrier based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, has received approval to begin scheduled international flights to Costa Rica, marking a major expansion in its global service offerings.

According to the airline, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has authorized modifications to Porter’s international service licenses. The updated licenses allow Porter to operate scheduled flights to Costa Rica, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland using its own aircraft.

“This decision, issued on June 6, 2025, represents a key milestone in the airline's growth strategy,” the company stated. “Until now, Porter was only permitted to serve these markets through codeshare agreements, in effect since March 22, 2023.”

Flights to Costa Rica will be operated using Porter’s Embraer E195-E2 jets, which seat 130 passengers. Routes will connect travelers from the airline’s hubs in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal to two Costa Rican destinations: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Guanacaste.

Additional booking details and schedule updates are available on Porter Airlines’ official website.

The regulatory approval coincides with Porter’s ongoing fleet expansion centered on the acquisition of Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. These jets offer the range and fuel efficiency required for both Caribbean and transatlantic routes, the airline noted.

With this move, Porter Airlines joins a growing list of international carriers increasing their presence in Costa Rica. Recently, American Airlines also launched a new nonstop route between the United States and Costa Rica.

Additionally, more than 1 million international tourists arrived by air between January and April 2025.

Tourism continues to be a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s economy. In 2024, the country received over 2.6 million air arrivals, marking a 7% increase over the previous year.

In 2024, the tourism sector generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange revenue, according to the Central Bank of Costa Rica.