Burlington, VT – Thursday’s arrival of Porter Airlines Flight 987 at Burlington International Airport marks the first international commercial flight from Toronto to Vermont.

Gov. Peter Shumlin, U.S. Consul General Kevin M. Johnson and Porter Airlines president and CEO Robert Deluce were present at Heritage Aviation to greet guests of the inaugural flight on Thursday. Porter’s international service to Vermont is a new, public-private initiative that offers visitors from Canada easy access to Vermont and to some of the state’s best skiing and riding this winter.

“Vermont’s partnership with Porter is a win-win for Vermont, Ontario, our tourism industry and local ski areas,” said Gov. Shumlin. “Porter Airlines’ new service will provide convenient access between Toronto and Vermont and expand two-way trade, investment and tourism to help grow our economy.”

A team of state officials and business leaders traveled to Toronto earlier Thursday on a business mission to promote tourism and economic development, and returned on the inaugural flight to Vermont with Canadian and Porter officials.

Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Lawrence Miller, Vermont Ski Areas Association President Parker Riehle, Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing Megan Smith and local business leaders gathered at the residence of Consul General Johnson in Toronto. The Vermont delegation met with their Ontario counterparts, including city mayors and elected officials, economic development directors from the Toronto area, the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters and the Toronto Board of Trade.

“The new direct flight to Burlington, Vermont, from Toronto, Canada, on Porter Air will open up many more opportunities for tourism, trade and investment between Vermont and Ontario,” said Consul General Johnson. “This comes just in time for ski season, but we’re hoping to expand links between Ontario and Vermont and the rest of New England across sectors and in all seasons.  On Dec. 7, the President and Prime Minister Harper announced action plans to improve links between the two biggest trading partners in the world, the U.S. and Canada.  New connections such as these flights help link Ontario more closely to Vermont and New England, something we know business, economic development officials and average citizens will take advantage of.”

Forty-eight Canadian-owned companies in Vermont employ more than 1,500 people. Examples of cross-border connections are Ontario-based Husky Injection Molding Systems, one of Vermont’s larger employers, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., headquartered in Vermont, which recently acquired Toronto-based Timothy’s Coffees of the World.

If the initial winter service proves popular, it is anticipated that Porter will consider adding more flights in winter and other seasons. Currently, Porter provides twice-weekly roundtrip flights aboard Canadian-built Bombardier Aerospace Q400 turboprop aircraft from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Burlington until April 8.

“Burlington is a gateway for Porter passengers to experience some of Vermont’s best ski-hills, a vibrant community and a host of other local attractions,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “We’re delighted to be here today celebrating the first of many successful flights.”

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator Sanders and U.S. Congressman Peter Welch, all D-VT, wrote to Porter Airlines last summer inviting them to begin service between Toronto and Burlington.  This fall, the lawmakers worked with the airport and other stakeholders to iron out details surrounding clearing international visitors at the airport.

The Burlington schedule includes weekly roundtrips on Thursdays and Sundays, with the exception of long weekends, which offer Thursday and Monday roundtrip options. Regular one-way fares start at $109, plus applicable fees and taxes. Special Porter ski packages and shuttle bus service for Jay Peak, Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Stowe Mountain Resort and Sugarbush Resort are available.

Funding for this international travel initiative is comprised of equal parts public and private funding.  The state’s Global Trade Fund will invest nearly $200,000.  Participating Vermont ski areas will invest $75,000 to market the new Toronto air route. Burlington International Airport will make structural upgrades and waive fees and rents as part of the project.