Toronto City boost

Canadian regional carrier Porter Airlines has announced an ambitious expansion plan to introduce up to 30 Bombardier C Series jets from 2016.  The deal is conditional that pure jet (as against prop jets) be allowed to use Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and the runway lengthened by 300 yards.  With the longer range, and higher capacity of the C series many new markets could be opened up including Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Florida, and the Caribbean.

Formerly known a Toronto Island Airport, and offshore in Lake Ontario, the airport actually dates from before WWII.  It is a 30-minute walk (1.5 miles) from mainline Union Street Station. Up until 2006 there had been various attempts to organise viable passenger services, all ending in failure. 

Porter Airlines arrived that year and under the energetic management of Robert Deluce now operates 26 of the locally built Bombardier Q400 turboprops to 19 destinations.  Under construction is a pedestrian tunnel to the airport, which will alleviate the present short ferry crossing. www.flyporter.com www.torontoport.com/airport.aspx  http://events.aero.bombardier.com/cseries-program-update

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