When Porter Airlines launched in 2006, it employed roughly 200 people. This month, as the airline celebrates its 10th birthday, at least 75 of those inaugural employees are still with the company in roles across the board, from operations and maintenance to flight crews and management, says spokesperson Brad Cicero.
“We had two full crews who had started in 2006 who operated commemorative flights [on October 23, 2016, Porter’s exact birthday],” he says. They flew between downtown Toronto and Ottawa, the airline’s original route, and upon landing, participated in celebrations, which included ceremonial water cannon salutes.
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Porter also threw a staff party in September, complete with loot bags, a plush version of the Mr. Porter raccoon mascot for each employee, and discounted airfare and hotel rates for out-of-town staff.
The airline’s launch of its company values document also coincided with the birthday party.
“Really, for the last 10 years we try to be as entrepreneurial and customer-oriented as we can for our passengers,” Cicero says. “That’s what we encourage among our team members, and the new values we introduced in September are very much reflective of that, so being passionate and treating people as individuals.”
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