I thought they were not gonna last a few months and that nobody wanted to fly "old style prop planes"? I'm very happy to see that they seem to be going strong.

Porter Airlines prepares for new destinations with Toronto City Centre terminal extension

Written by Porter Airlines
Thursday, 06 September 2007
TORONTO – Porter Airlines is growing its operations base at Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA) to accommodate increasing passenger levels as it prepares to begin service to New York and other destinations in 2008.

Construction begins this month on an extended terminal, including three additional arrival and departure gates. The project is scheduled for completion by Dec. 31, with passenger areas continuing to feature leather lounge seating, complimentary wireless Internet access, beverages and snacks, while offering greater availability of computer work stations.

“The terminal experience is a defining aspect of Porter, emphasizing convenience, service and sophistication,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “This growth is part of our original plan to serve at least 17 Canadian and U.S. destinations, and we will continue delivering on Porter’s ‘flying refined’ promise as we enter new markets.”

Scott Associates Architects Inc. will continue the work they began on Porter’s original TCCA terminal project. Scott Associates is a full-service architectural firm specializing in the design, planning and management of unique projects like airport complexes, office buildings and research and telecommunications facilities. BECC Construction Group is the project’s contractor. BECC has developed its reputation as a leader in the construction industry through involvement in complex institutional projects, including for law enforcement, airport authorities and various medical health groups.

Porter’s terminal investment is driven by the airline’s strong financial performance, including average monthly revenue growth of over 20 per cent since beginning flights October 23, 2006. June saw a net-profit margin of eight per cent.

“Porter has been a well-financed company from the beginning and our most recent financial figures indicate that our business model is sound as we enter into the next phase of our development,” said Deluce. “An eight per cent net income margin is among the strongest in the North American airline industry. With consistent revenue growth, our numbers will continue to exceed expectations and the next steps in our growth can be taken with confidence.”

About Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines Inc. is a regional passenger carrier based at Toronto City Centre Airport. The airline currently serves Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. Porter plans to fly to as many as 17 short-haul Canadian and U.S. destinations. Visit http://www.flyporter.com or call (416) 619-8622 or (888) 619-8622 for more information.

http://www.aviation.ca/content/view/4837/125/

I spent a few days with friends who live in a waterfront condo, they like planes so they don't mind it there. The only thing I heard was street cars, garbage trucks, the drone of constant traffic, construction and the occasional airplane. In the grand scheme of things the LAST thing one could hear were planes and they live almost right at the threshold. I tell yah, these folks are RETARDED. It's almost like they only have ears for the planes. As for the smell, if you can make out jet fumes over the thousands of cars, garbage and lake smell you got a better nose than most dogs.

Porter to expand island airport service

Island airport growth to proceed in advance of U.S. flight additions

Sep 07, 2007 04:30 AM
Chris Sorensen
Business Reporter

Condo owners along Toronto's waterfront could soon be seeing more passenger planes zip by their floor-to-ceiling windows as upstart Porter Airlines proceeds with plans to add U.S. routes next year.

Porter, the swank regional airline launched last fall, said yesterday it will proceed with a controversial expansion at the island airport in order to add U.S. cities such as New York to its flight map in early 2008.

The expansion has been opposed by some waterfront dwellers who complain it will bring more traffic and noise to the area.

Robert Deluce, the Toronto businessman behind Porter, said the airline intends to build three new departure gates for a total of five, in order to accommodate as many as six new Bombardier-built turboprops that Porter expects to add to its fleet of four aircraft over the next 12 months.

The airline also plans to triple the size of its plush departure lounge, which has leather seats, a self-serve espresso maker and complimentary beverages and snacks. Also in the works at the terminal are more computer workstations to cater to Porter's target market of business travellers keen to avoid the headaches of flying out of Pearson International Airport.

The expansion program "is all part and parcel of getting ourselves ready to enter the U.S. market," Deluce said yesterday.

Porter, which now flies to Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, got the green light from Washington earlier this year to fly to U.S. destinations.

While that may be good news for travellers, opponents say Porter's expanding footprint on the island is decisive proof that its presence contradicts the city's goal to rejuvenate the waterfront.

"The penny is finally going to drop that this is going to be a major hub airport," said Bill Freeman of Communityair, a community group that wants the airport scrapped entirely. "We've known that this is Deluce's plan, but now the chickens are coming home to roost."

In addition to the noise from aircraft landings and departures, Freeman said residents are unhappy about the increasing numbers of taxis and cars delivering Porter passengers to the ferry docks. "The people that live close to the airport have really noticed a deterioration in their quality of life."

Councillor Adam Vaughan, whose Trinity-Spadina ward includes neighbourhoods near the airport, said his constituents have also complained about the smell of aviation fuel hanging in the air.

Opponents have been hoping the brutal economics of the aviation industry will ground Porter and, eventually, the airport itself. Both Freeman and Vaughan are in that camp, citing unofficial counts that suggest many Porter flights are less than half full.

Deluce, not surprisingly, sees brighter horizons. He said Porter so far is outperforming his original expectations and has averaged revenue growth of 20 per cent monthly since October.

He said Porter posted a "net profit margin" of 8 per cent in June, which he called "probably even a tad better than WestJet have been running more recently."

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/254074

Leblanc claimed Jetsgo was profitable too...

Porter's got its cozy little monopoly at YTZ, just wait until things heat up with increased competition. If Deluce is already complaining about WS and AC, just wait until they start flying into a US legacy carriers' hub.

CanadaEH, don't compare Porter to Jetsgo. If you think there is some sort of similarity, then you either have no clue, or you're an idiot. That kind of B.S. is insulting to those of us who work there.

Nonetheless, you are correct when you say that there will be increased competition. But when Westjet is selling tickets from Toronto to Ottawa at $17, who is running their business like Jetsgo???

CanadaEH wrote:Porter's got its cozy little monopoly at YTZ...

...some people still don't get it.
The remaining t/o and landing slots at YTZ are up for grabs. US airways for one was offered slots and had already drafted a proposed schedule. They chose not to excercise that schedule.
Jazz is entitled to the same, however they insisted on increasing their flight frequency well beyond anything they ever had before. There are simply not that many slots to be had.
Porter is the ONLY airline which has committed to revitalizing the airport with new facilities.
If other airlines want in, the Port Aurthority has already stated they would welcome it. However, it's up to them to negotiate for the remaining slots and build their own infrastructure.

Valhalla wrote: Nonetheless, you are correct when you say that there will be increased competition. But when Westjet is selling tickets from Toronto to Ottawa at $17, who is running their business like Jetsgo???

Correction!!! It was $11.

CanadaEH, don't compare Porter to Jetsgo. If you think there is some sort of similarity, then you either have no clue, or you're an idiot. That kind of B.S. is insulting to those of us who work there.

Michel Leblanc claimed Jetsgo was profitable; a claim that he made as recent as a few months before Jetsgo shutdown. It was public information after-the-fact that Jetsgo was running with sub-50% loads system wide and losing a lot of money. I don't claim to know, nor am I suggesting the same fate awaits Porter, but as a private company that question will always linger so you might as well get used to it. It's nothing personal. With that aside, I don't see any other similarities between the two.

Nonetheless, you are correct when you say that there will be increased competition. But when Westjet is selling tickets from Toronto to Ottawa at $17, who is running their business like Jetsgo???

How long did that sale last for? One day? How long did Jetsgo offer $1 fares; $29 fares; $49 fares (to fly as far as YVR-YUL!!)? Those seat sales went on for weeks and ran system-wide. It's easy to look at a price of $17 and say WS is running their business like Jetsgo, but the fact is WS is a profitable airline -- one of the most profitable airlines in NA, no less -- and offered a limited amount of seats for one day on two routes. Two routes! Those two routes amount to (and I'm using the figures someone else posted on another forum) less than 6% of WS's toal ASM's which is peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

However, it's up to them to negotiate for the remaining slots and build their own infrastructure.

Nice catch.

CanadaEH wrote:

However, it's up to them to negotiate for the remaining slots and build their own infrastructure.

Nice catch.

What "catch"? Do you expect Porter to pay to build a terminal or provide gate space in their facilities to a competitor?


...by the way CanadaEH, I gather you're a Westjetter from your other posts...I'm, just curious, how long did it take for WJ to turn their first net profit? ...honestly I don't know.

CanadaEH wrote: Michel Leblanc claimed Jetsgo was profitable; a claim that he made as recent as a few months before Jetsgo shutdown. It was public information after-the-fact that Jetsgo was running with sub-50% loads system wide and losing a lot of money. I don't claim to know, nor am I suggesting the same fate awaits Porter, but as a private company that question will always linger so you might as well get used to it. It's nothing personal. With that aside, I don't see any other similarities between the two.

Don't worry so much about Porter's profitability. It's been announced internally that employees are getting a bonus cheque THIS year. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

What "catch"? Do you expect Porter to pay to build a terminal or provide gate space in their facilities to a competitor?

I don't know how YTZ is run but I would assume the TPA would either build or provide space to an airline.. that's how most AA's operate. Who paid for Porters terminal? I didn't pay much attention to Porter before it started flying... too much controversy and BS in a city car away from me to care.

...by the way CanadaEH, I gather you're a Westjetter from your other posts...I'm, just curious, how long did it take for WJ to turn their first net profit? ...honestly I don't know.

I believe it was 10 months into operation although I wasn't here at the time.

Don't worry so much about Porter's profitability. It's been announced internally that employees are getting a bonus cheque THIS year. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

I'm not. And congrats on the bonus.

CanadaEH wrote:I don't know how YTZ is run but I would assume the TPA would either build or provide space to an airline.. that's how most AA's operate. Who paid for Porters terminal?

The terminal is Porters. The port authority built the new ferry and passenger transfer facilities. Other updates, such as new approaches and approach aids, lighting, snow removal etc. are a joint venture I believe.

The terminal is Porters. The port authority built the new ferry and passenger transfer facilities. Other updates, such as new approaches and approach aids, lighting, snow removal etc. are a joint venture I believe.

I'm only asking because I do not know... but who paid for the terminal, the TPA or Porter? Passenger transfer facilities are what - walkway or holding area from ferry to terminal/terminal to ferry?

Porter paid for and is continuing to fund the actual terminal and the new expansion. The TPA paid for the ferry and transfer facilities (landside and island ferry slip and enclosed walkways/waiting area). The island side ferry terminal adjoins the main Porter terminal, offices and lounge.

Got it, thanks.