No Fork? No Food
Ottawa residents who rely on Porter Airlines for travel, including popular sun destination routes, may want to tuck a plastic fork into their carry-on after a bizarre incident on a recent flight left passengers literally unable to eat.
Passengers aboard Porter Airlines Flight PD784, which departed Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica on March 19 and landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport around 10:30 p.m., discovered mid-flight that the airline had run out of cutlery entirely.
What Happened on Board
Alina Katsev, a mother travelling home with her three children, likely returning from a March Break vacation like many Canadian families, shared her experience with blogTO. When her family tried to order cheese plates and Mr. Noodle from the in-flight menu, a flight attendant returned with an uncomfortable message: there was only one cheese platter left and no utensils anywhere on the plane.
"They told us that the flight to Liberia used everything they had, and so, nothing was left for the flight home," Katsev recounted. Other menu items, including rice dishes, also required cutlery and couldn't be served as a result.
Katsev noted that no apology was offered for the inconvenience during the nearly five-hour flight.
Porter's Response
A Porter Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating the aircraft "inadvertently had less cutlery onboard than what is typically supplied" on Flight PD784. The airline did not elaborate on how the oversight occurred or what measures are being taken to prevent it from happening again.
Why This Matters for Ottawa Flyers
Porter Airlines has a significant presence in Ottawa, operating out of Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport and connecting the capital to destinations across Canada and beyond. For Ottawa travellers planning spring getaways or March Break trips to Central America or the Caribbean, this incident is a reminder that in-flight meal service isn't always guaranteed, even when you've paid for it.
With Porter continuing to expand its route network, including longer international flights where meal service becomes more important, passengers are right to expect basic amenities like cutlery to be stocked before departure.
A Small Thing With a Big Impact
It might seem minor, no forks on a plane, but for families travelling with young children after a long vacation, it's the kind of thing that can sour an otherwise pleasant trip. A five-hour flight without food is a long time, especially for kids.
The lesson? If you're flying on a longer Porter route, consider grabbing a snack at the airport gate just in case. And maybe throw a plastic fork in your bag.
Source: blogTO
