When Porter Airlines at last takes flight again at Toronto Billy Bishop City Airport, the airline can expect to face new competition from start-up Connection Airlines, the latest carrier to pop up during the pandemic pause in full-scale aviation.

A division of Boston-based charter operator Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA), the new carrier plans to begin operations in October (subject to regulatory approvals), connecting YTZ with airports in the Northeast and Midwest United States.

Connect Airlines will use Canadian-built Q400 turboprop aircraft to offer a premium service aimed at day-tripping business travellers direct into Toronto’s downtown island airport as they start to fly between the US and Canada again.

WMA CEO John Thomas, who, in addition to actively managing WMA sits on the Board of Skyservice, the largest corporate aviation service provider in Canada, says Connect will be “lean, agile and digital-first,” adding, “Not only is this important as the industry recovers, but passengers are demanding it.”

“Connect Airlines is bucking an industry-wide trend,” adds Jitendra Sindhwani, ‎President & Head, Aviation Business at IBS Software, which will provide Connect’s software platform and build its website and mobile app. “This bold statement is testament to the growing confidence in the aviation industry recovery.”

United States

Meanwhile, south of the border two new leisure-oriented airlines await Americans looking to fly somewhere. Both hope to draw passengers by filling in smaller strands on the spider web of airline routes crisscrossing the United States.

Avelo Airlines will begin flying later this month to 11 destinations from Burbank, California. The start-up plans to add other routes in the West as soon as it grows its fleet of three Boeing 737 jets.

“There are too few seats in the United States being offered by low-cost carriers. That’s why we think the opportunity is huge,” says Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. “Customers want a really inexpensive way to get from Point A to Point B.”

Also waiting in the wings is Breeze Airways, the latest creation of David Neeleman, who helped start WestJet before founding JetBlue Airways and the Brazilian airline Azul.

Breeze plans to fly to “neglected, forgotten” markets, including many that larger airlines have abandoned. Breeze is currently running proving flights for the Federal Aviation Administration and could announce details around routes and fares as soon as next week and be carrying passengers in May.

The last new US airline was Virgin America, which began flying in 2007 and disappeared after Alaska airlines bought it in 2016.