Edmonton travellers have four more ways to escape the cold this month as Porter Airlines launches nonstop flights to Mexico and the United States. The first route, from Edmonton International Airport (YEG) to Puerto Vallarta, is scheduled to begin today, Tuesday, November 3. Phoenix follows on Friday, November 6, and Las Vegas and Los Cabos launch Monday, November 16.
The routes arrive as YEG reports a 46 per cent increase in winter sun capacity over last winter. Air Canada, Flair and WestJet are adding flights from Edmonton too.
Porter’s four new Edmonton routes and launch dates
Here’s when each route starts and which days it flies, according to Edmonton International Airport’s winter schedule:
| Destination | First flight | Days of operation |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday |
| Phoenix, Arizona | Friday, Nov. 6 | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | Monday, Nov. 16 | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
| Los Cabos, Mexico | Monday, Nov. 16 | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
Puerto Vallarta gets three Porter flights a week, and the other three routes get four. Phoenix steps up to daily service over the holidays, from Dec. 17 to Jan. 4, and again from Feb. 11 to Mar. 27, according to schedule data published by AeroRoutes. Porter’s Phoenix flights also connect to partner American Airlines’ U.S. network.
All four routes are new for Porter, and Porter says they’re its first international flights from Alberta. The airline flies them on Embraer E195-E2 jets, which have two-by-two seating with no middle seats. Schedules can change around holidays, so confirm your dates before booking.
What the new flights mean for Edmonton travellers
WestJet already flies to all four destinations from Edmonton, so Porter gives travellers a second airline to compare. According to YEG’s winter schedule, WestJet runs daily flights to Puerto Vallarta and Phoenix. If its days don’t suit your trip, Porter’s may.
More service doesn’t automatically mean cheaper tickets. Fares depend on demand, travel dates, seat availability and how far ahead you book, and neither the airline nor the airport has released prices for these routes. Look past the advertised fare as well, since baggage, seat selection and change fees can add up.
Edmonton’s winter sun flight capacity is up 46%
The airport announced in September that its overall sun capacity is up 46 per cent this winter. That figure counts available airline seats, not passengers or destinations. YEG says airlines are responding to steady demand for winter leisure travel from the Edmonton region.
Adrian Warchola, YEG’s director of air service development, called the growth “a strong signal of confidence in this region.”
Air Canada, Flair and WestJet are expanding too
Porter accounts for only part of that increase.
Air Canada is adding nonstop flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Mondays starting Dec. 7.
Flair Airlines is bringing back nonstop service to Cancun, Mexico, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays starting Dec. 16.
WestJet calls this its biggest-ever winter sun schedule. Its capacity from Edmonton is up 34 per cent, and it has twice as many weekly flights to Los Cabos and Montego Bay as last winter.
Edmonton is also getting nonstop flights to Germany in 2027
Nonstop flights between Edmonton and Frankfurt, Germany, are scheduled to begin in June 2027, giving travellers a way to reach Europe without connecting through Calgary, Toronto or Vancouver.
How to book Porter’s new Edmonton flights
Book directly with Porter Airlines or through a travel agent. YEG keeps a full list of nonstop sun destinations and the airlines serving them at flyyeg.com/sun.
Passengers flying to Phoenix or Las Vegas clear U.S. customs at YEG before departure. Anyone travelling to Mexico needs a valid passport and should check entry rules and baggage policies before booking.
Comments