rotornut
3rd Oct 2006, 13:58
GLOBEANDMAIL.com
Chow boycotting Porter Airlines
JEFF GRAY
Attacked by the mayor and despised by local activists, start-up air carrier Porter Airlines says it will make its maiden flight to Ottawa from its controversial perch at Toronto's island airport at 7 a.m. on Oct. 23.
But at least one MP from Toronto hopes none of her colleagues will be on board.
The NDP's Olivia Chow, who fought against expansion of the airport as the local city councillor, said yesterday she is calling for a boycott of the new airline by her colleagues in Ottawa.
"I will be watching very closely to see that no MPs or civil servants travel via that airport, because the City of Toronto has been very clear" about opposing airport expansion, Ms. Chow said in a phone interview from Ottawa.
As of today, passengers can purchase tickets on-line for Porter's 10 flights each weekday every 90 minutes to and from Ottawa, with one-way fares starting at $120.
A check of Air Canada's on-line reservations yesterday showed 17 Ottawa flights on Oct. 23 with one-way fares starting at $111.
Porter's chief executive officer, Robert Deluce, is promising high-end service before and during the 56-minute flight aboard Bombardier Q400 planes, which are equipped with 70 leather seats.
A second plane is expected to arrive within a few days. Porter hopes to have four of the Toronto-made planes in operation by year's end, and has ordered 10 with an option to buy 10 more. Porter also has plans to offer more destinations in Canada and the United States.
"Passengers will be pleased to learn that we don't charge extra for the basics," Mr. Deluce said in a press statement that promises complimentary food and beverages, including beer and wine.
"Porter is all about 'flying refined,' " Mr. Deluce added.
The federal Transport Department gave a final go-ahead to Porter's plans last month. But Mayor David Miller has vowed to continue his fight against any increase in the number of flights from the airport, which he sees as incompatible with waterfront redevelopment plans.
Mr. Miller clashed with Mr. Deluce during the 2003 election, and later delivered on a promise to kill a proposed bridge to the island airport meant to aid the entrepreneur's last attempt to start an airline there.
Last week, The Globe and Mail reported that Mr. Deluce received $20-million in a confidential settlement with the previous Liberal federal government over the cancellation of the bridge -- $9-million of which he agreed to invest in infrastructure at the island airport.
In all, $35-million was doled out to the Toronto Port Authority, the federal agency that runs the airport -- which is not allowed to receive federal subsidies -- and to other companies.
A review of the TPA by Montreal lawyer Roger Tassé, commissioned by the Transport Department, is due for release this month.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061003.PORTER03/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/
Chow boycotting Porter Airlines
JEFF GRAY
Attacked by the mayor and despised by local activists, start-up air carrier Porter Airlines says it will make its maiden flight to Ottawa from its controversial perch at Toronto's island airport at 7 a.m. on Oct. 23.
But at least one MP from Toronto hopes none of her colleagues will be on board.
The NDP's Olivia Chow, who fought against expansion of the airport as the local city councillor, said yesterday she is calling for a boycott of the new airline by her colleagues in Ottawa.
"I will be watching very closely to see that no MPs or civil servants travel via that airport, because the City of Toronto has been very clear" about opposing airport expansion, Ms. Chow said in a phone interview from Ottawa.
As of today, passengers can purchase tickets on-line for Porter's 10 flights each weekday every 90 minutes to and from Ottawa, with one-way fares starting at $120.
A check of Air Canada's on-line reservations yesterday showed 17 Ottawa flights on Oct. 23 with one-way fares starting at $111.
Porter's chief executive officer, Robert Deluce, is promising high-end service before and during the 56-minute flight aboard Bombardier Q400 planes, which are equipped with 70 leather seats.
A second plane is expected to arrive within a few days. Porter hopes to have four of the Toronto-made planes in operation by year's end, and has ordered 10 with an option to buy 10 more. Porter also has plans to offer more destinations in Canada and the United States.
"Passengers will be pleased to learn that we don't charge extra for the basics," Mr. Deluce said in a press statement that promises complimentary food and beverages, including beer and wine.
"Porter is all about 'flying refined,' " Mr. Deluce added.
The federal Transport Department gave a final go-ahead to Porter's plans last month. But Mayor David Miller has vowed to continue his fight against any increase in the number of flights from the airport, which he sees as incompatible with waterfront redevelopment plans.
Mr. Miller clashed with Mr. Deluce during the 2003 election, and later delivered on a promise to kill a proposed bridge to the island airport meant to aid the entrepreneur's last attempt to start an airline there.
Last week, The Globe and Mail reported that Mr. Deluce received $20-million in a confidential settlement with the previous Liberal federal government over the cancellation of the bridge -- $9-million of which he agreed to invest in infrastructure at the island airport.
In all, $35-million was doled out to the Toronto Port Authority, the federal agency that runs the airport -- which is not allowed to receive federal subsidies -- and to other companies.
A review of the TPA by Montreal lawyer Roger Tassé, commissioned by the Transport Department, is due for release this month.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061003.PORTER03/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/