If you want to get to cottage country this summer, you're going to have to drive -- Porter Airlines will no longer offer flights to Muskoka, the airline confirmed to STOREYS.
"Porter has appreciated working with local tourism and airport partners to promote Muskoka over the years," Brad Cicero, Porter's Director of Communications and Public Affairs, said in a statement.
"Our joint efforts have contributed to generating broader interest in the region that we hope will have long-term benefits for the community."
The cessation of the seasonal route comes as Porter expands its operations to Pearson Airport and adds additional destinations across North America.
Porter launched flights to Bracebridge's Muskoka Airport in the summer of 2019, and restarted the route in 2022 following the airline's pandemic-induced hiatus. Operating on Mondays and Fridays, the flights ferried travellers between Muskoka and downtown Toronto in just 35 minutes.
Explorer's Edge, the regional tourism organization for Muskoka, noted that the move was "a business decision on Porter's part," and that it will remain focused on commercial air service.
James Murphy, CEO of Explorer's Edge, said that two years of collecting data from the Porter flights, as well as marketing the route locally, domestically, and internationally, have equipped the organization with a wealth of information that will help make a compelling business case to other carriers.
"Our own objective all along has been to increase international visitors to the region, because they stay longer and spend more. Commercial air service also allows us to be competitive with urban tourism destinations, such as Ottawa, Toronto, and Niagara Falls," Murphy said.
"We have nothing but great things to say about our colleagues at Porter Airlines, and we are very appreciative of everything we learned while working with them. We wish them great success as they build their Embraer service out of Pearson International Airport."
