Porter Airlines
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| Porter Airlines | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| IATA PD |
ICAO POE |
Callsign PORTER AIR |
| Founded | 2006 | |
| Hubs | Toronto City Centre Airport | |
| Member lounge | Porter Airlines Lounge | |
| Alliance | None | |
| Fleet size | 6 | |
| Destinations | 7 | |
| Parent company | Porter Aviation Holdings Inc | |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario | |
| Key people | Robert Deluce(CEO/President) Donald J. Carty (Chairman) |
|
| Website: http://www.flyporter.com | ||
Porter Airlines is a regional airline based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It operates regularly-scheduled flights from Toronto's 'Island Airport' (officially Toronto City Centre Airport[1]) to destinations in Canada and the United States utilizing Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. The airline is run by Robert Deluce (President and CEO) and former American Airlines chief executive, Canadian-born Donald J. Carty (Chairman). Carty is also the chairman of the Virgin America airline, which is owned by Richard Branson. Porter is a subsidiary of privately held Regco Holdings Inc. Its investors include EdgeStone Capital Partners, Borealis Infrastructure and REGCO Capital Corp.[2] The airline's mascot is a stylized raccoon named "Mr. Porter".[3]
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[edit] History
Porter Airlines launch was controversial. In 2002, the 'Toronto City Centre Airport', or 'Island Airport', operated by the Toronto Port Authority was losing $1 million per year.[4]. As part of its mandate to break even, the Port Authority planned to expand the use of the airport, as passenger traffic to the airport was in decline. Only Air Canada flew flights out of the airport as part of its "Jazz" service, operating daily flights to Ottawa after the closure of the 'City Express' regional airline.
In October 2002, the Port Authority announced a $35 million dollar plan to 'revitalize' the airport by building a $15 million bridge and a $20 million airport terminal and to support a new regional airline to be run by Toronto businessman Robert Deluce (the former owner of Air Ontario).[4] Since its opening, the Airport, located on Toronto Island, was accessible by passenger ferry, seen as an obstacle to expansion and an annual expenditure. The plans were approved by Toronto City Council in November 2002.
Expansion of the airport was opposed by neighboring residents and community associations who together formed the Community Air special interest group to fight the expansion. The expansion became a primary issue in the 2003 Toronto municipal election. Mayoral candidates Barbara Hall and John Tory supported the bridge and David Miller opposed it. Miller and a slate of candidates for council ran on a platform to stop the plan. After Miller and the new council were elected in November 2003, the council voted to cancel the previous Council's decision, stopping the bridge project.
After the bridge was canceled, Robert Deluce launched a $505 million dollar lawsuit against the City of Toronto and later expanded it to the Canadian federal government.[5] After receiving an unspecified amount of compensation from the Port Authority to settle the suit, his company bought the airport building that Jazz was using at the airport and cancelled Jazz' lease on January 31, 2006. Two days later, on February 2, 2006, he announced that Porter Airlines, a regional airline operating locally-built Bombardier turboprops would begin service in 2006, operating from the airport. In a show of political support, the Porter press conference was staged at the Bombardier plant in suburban Toronto, where the airplanes are built, with support from Canadian Auto Workers leader Buzz Hargrove, who has said it will create new employment opportunities in the region.[6] On the same day the Port Authority announced plans to improve ferry service to serve the new airline.
Immediately, political opponents of the airport expansion, including Toronto Mayor David Miller, City Council members, local community associations and local Members of Parliament Olivia Chow and Jack Layton expressed concern that the operation of a major airline from the island will cause increased noise and air pollution in the downtown core.[7] Other concerns raised included safety issues. The Airport runways are not long, prompting speculation as to the safety of the Bombardier planes, which listed a longer minimum runway length in their specifications. Deluce announced that the planes would not need the full length as they would not be fully-loaded. The other safety concern was the flightpath to be used. The airplanes using the airport have to make an 'S' turn on their approach from the east to avoid hazards such as tall buildings and chimneys in the area.[citation needed]
The airline's maiden flight took place on October 23, 2006 to Ottawa.[8] When flights began, airline passengers were at first blocked by protesters at the ferry dock, urging a boycott of the service. Although protests have dwindled, airport expansion continues to be opposed by local residents and supported by local business leaders and the Port Authority. Since October 2006, the airline has added regular direct flights to Montreal, vacation flights to Mont Tremblant and Halifax and has planned further destinations.
[edit] Destinations
- Further information: Porter Airlines destinations
Daily flights
- Toronto - Ottawa
- Toronto - Montreal
- Toronto - Newark
Seasonal flights
- Toronto - Quebec
- Toronto - Halifax
- Toronto - Mont Tremblant
Future destinations Porter intends to expand service to Boston, Chicago (Midway), Washington and Philadelphia.[9] Porter is working with Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario airport officials to possibly add Sault Ste. Marie to its destinations, starting no earlier than September 2008.[10]
[edit] Services
Porter provides a bus shuttle from the downtown Royal York Hotel to the ferry dock. At the terminal, amenities include access to the Porter Airlines lounge.
[edit] Fleet
The Porter Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (as of February 2008)[1]:
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Economy) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 6 | 70 | another 6 are on order with an option for 8 more |
Porter Airlines has 6 70-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprops, with orders for 6 more and options to purchase an additional 8. Standard leather-upholstered seats are arranged in a 2-2 configuration, some seats have slightly more leg-room than standard.
The registration of Porter's planes are: C-GLQB, C-GLQC, C-GLQD, C-GLQE, C-GLQF, C-GLQG
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-04-10, p. 65.
- ^ Porter to take flight in 2006. CNW Group. February 2, 2006. [1]
- ^ Porter Airlines Press release.
- ^ a b Pigg, Susan (October 5, 2002), Toronto Star: pg. E01
- ^ Cowan, James (July 6, 2004), “Airline suing Toronto for $505M over bridge”, The National Post: pg. A7
- ^ CTV.ca staff (February 2, 2006). New airline renews T.O. Island airport dispute. CTV.ca.
- ^ CTV.ca staff (October 30, 2006). Porter Airlines expanding service to Montreal. CTV.ca.
- ^ CTV.ca staff (October 23, 2006). Protests as Porter Airlines takes flight.
- ^ About Porter - Message from the CEO. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
- ^ Porter Airlines Indicates Commitment Regarding Expansion. Retrieved on 2008-04-31.
[edit] External links
- Porter Airlines corporate web site
- vPorter Airlines web site
- Official News Release
- Ottawa Business Journal
- Porter Airlines takes off despite protest
