Thirteen. That is how many destinations Hamilton can now reach nonstop on Porter Airlines, after the carrier added a twice-daily Ottawa service. Porter is currently the only airline flying the route without a stop.
The planes are 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops, laid out as a single-class cabin with no middle seats. Beer and wine are free and come in glassware, alongside a selection of premium snacks. The airline presents this as a middle path between low-cost and traditional full-service carriers.
The timetable
Flights out of Ottawa are set for 8:35 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., arriving at 9:43 a.m. and 3:08 p.m. From Hamilton, they leave at 10:25 a.m. and 6:35 p.m. and touch down in Ottawa at 11:39 a.m. and 7:49 p.m. All times are local.
The spacing allows a same-day return in either direction, which is the main draw for business and frequent travellers. Meetings, day trips and onward connections all fit between the two banks of flights.
What the route plugs into
Ottawa is a transfer point in Porter’s eastern network. From there, passengers can carry on to Charlottetown, Fredericton and Moncton. Hamilton gets the benefit in reverse: fewer itineraries that route through a large hub.
The airline operates from several airports around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton region, which lets it spread traffic out and give passengers a choice of departure point. Hamilton’s airport is positioned as a quick way into Burlington, the Niagara Region and the western Toronto suburbs, and a way to dodge congestion elsewhere. Porter has been aiming at mid-sized cities and secondary airports, and this route follows that pattern.
As Travel And Tour World noted in its report on the launch, carriers across Canada are looking harder at underserved city pairs that can hold steady demand without a hub connection. Ottawa to Hamilton is one of those pairs.
Both cities bring their own traffic. Ottawa has federal administration, diplomatic activity and a tourism base built on its national museums and the Rideau Canal. Hamilton has moved past its manufacturing image, with a growing arts scene, independent food culture and waterfront redevelopment, plus access to Niagara Falls and Ontario’s wine regions.
