City urged to delay Porter Airlines expansion decision

Toronto city staff is recommending that council delay a decision on Porter Airlines’ expansion plans until March 2015.

City staff made the recommendation in a new report released on Thursday and a news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. at city hall to discuss the findings.
Porter has been seeking permission from the city to fly jets out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport after signing a $2.08-billion deal with Bombardier in April to buy up to 30 CS100 airliners. It also needs city permission to extend its runway by 200 metres on each end.

Under a tripartite agreement with the municipal, provincial and federal governments, jets are prohibited at the island airport. Currently, Porter uses Bombardier’s Q400 turboprops to carry passengers to such nearby destinations as Montreal, Ottawa, New York and Washington, D.C.

But Porter, whose CEO wasn’t immediately available for comment, argues that jets are quieter and cleaner than when the tripartite agreement was signed in 1983. The agreement expires in 2033.

The staff report, which cost $1.1 million, said there are still outstanding questions despite consultant studies:

• Transport Canada has not provided the city with confirmation of the feasibility and impacts of a runway extension.

• The available flight test data is insufficient to confirm whether the proposed jets will meet the noise guidelines set out in the tripartite agreement.

• Transport Canada has not yet disclosed updated noise data about the jets.

The executive committee is expected to consider the report at its meeting next week before council debates the matter on Dec. 16.

Source: City News