Porter Airlines is expanding internationally beyond the U.S., launching 13 new routes to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America from Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, and Hamilton, starting this winter. The new destinations include Cancun and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, Nassau in the Bahamas, Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, and Liberia in Costa Rica. Flights will commence in November and December, with frequencies varying from daily to weekly, depending on the route. "These are Porter's first routes outside our established Canada and U.S. markets, and we're entering with five unique destinations," said Porter President Kevin Jackson.

This marks Porter's entry into longer-haul international leisure markets, moving beyond its previous U.S. sun routes. The Ottawa–Liberia route, at nearly 2,500 miles, tests the limits of the Embraer 195-E2's 2,990-mile range, surpassing Porter's current longest route, Montreal–Vancouver at 2,287 miles. The expansion places Porter in a competitive leisure market, with 10 of the 13 new routes facing direct competition, including Toronto–Cancun, where four other airlines operate. However, Porter will be the only carrier offering nonstop flights from Ottawa to Grand Cayman and Liberia, and from Hamilton to Puerto Vallarta and Nassau. The new routes also enhance connectivity through Porter's joint venture with Air Transat.

The expansion comes amid challenges in the Canada–U.S. transborder market, where demand has softened due to heightened tensions. Porter has adjusted by suspending routes like Toronto–San Diego in June and canceling the planned Montreal–Las Vegas seasonal return in January 2026. Meanwhile, the airline has strengthened its U.S. East Coast presence, adding three daily Toronto–New York-LaGuardia flights in May and launching seasonal Montreal–Newark service through early September. Porter's U.S. capacity is up 15% this summer, contrasting with reductions by Air Canada (7%), Air Transat (32%), Flair Airlines (17%), and WestJet (4%). However, Porter has shifted focus to its domestic market, which now accounts for 80% of its network, up from a planned 75%, as some Canadian travelers avoid cross-border trips.