Alaska Airlines has formed a new partnership with a Canadian carrier that will soon benefit passengers on both sides of the border.
Beginning in January, Canadian regional carrier Porter Airlines will partner with Alaska to offer flights from its main hub in Toronto to both Los Angeles and San Francisco, Alaska Airlines announced this week.
West Coast-focused Alaska Airlines has hubs at both of California’s major airports, making the partnership a strategic move to strengthen its presence in Canada. Travellers will soon benefit from seamless ticketing and baggage handling on both airlines.
“Porter Airlines opens up new opportunities for our guests to travel to Canada in style,” said Brett Catlin, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales, in a statement. “We’re excited to partner with a dynamic and growing airline that offers a refined experience, including world-class in-flight service and great amenities on board.”
Porter’s Los Angeles service will launch on 16 January, while San Francisco service will begin on 25 January. Both routes will be served daily by Porter’s fleet of new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft in a comfortable 2-2 configuration.
These interline flights are available for booking now on Alaska’s and Porter’s websites. Alaska Mileage Plan members purchasing Porter flights directly through Alaska can earn “at least 100% of the miles flown and 100% elite-qualifying miles,” according to the airline.
The two airlines plan to expand the partnership by 2024, allowing travellers to earn full mileage regardless of where they book their flights. Alaska also hinted at more benefits for Mileage Plan and VIPorter loyalty members as the partnership grows.
The announcement of this partnership comes just over a week after Alaska announced its intention to acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal valued at approximately $1.9 billion. Porter Airlines is Alaska’s 30th airline partner. Alaska later joined the Oneworld alliance in 2021 and continues to maintain unique partnerships with airlines such as Fiji Airways and Korean Air, connecting travellers to “more than 1,000 destinations around the world”.