Porter Airlines, Canada’s 3rd largest airline will begin Saturday-only nonstop service from Toronto’s close-in airport, Billy Bishop to Melbourne in December. Flying Porter which gives a premium experience when compared to Air Canada or West Jet has become fashionable among business people in major east coast American \cities. Florida is Canada’s largest international market and Air Canada, the national carrier boasts two of its three busiest international stations in the state – Fort Lauderdale and Orlando (London-Heathrow is the other airport in the top 3 for Air Canada). However, Porter has chosen Melbourne, not Orlando, Fort Lauderdale or any other large Florida airport as its first Florida destination.

The landing of Porter at Melbourne International Airport is a coup for the Central Florida city. Melbourne at one time was a station for many network carriers but since the decline of the space program and explosion of tourism around Orlando, the airport has been in decline. But this new Canadian flight for the airport, particularly on a well-respected and fashionable carrier like Porter could help turn that slide around.