Air Canada says ‘no jets’ at Billy Bishop airport

For the first time, Air Canada has come out forcefully against jets at Toronto’s island airport in the wake of PortsToronto releasing preliminary details this week of a study looking at how jets could be permitted there.

“Air Canada’s position on this matter is crystal clear. We do not support jets at Billy Bishop,” said Derek Vanstone, vice president of corporate strategy, government and industry affairs, in a news release.

“We prefer to see a growing downtown airport focused on short-haul passengers using modern turboprop aircraft,” he said, noting that would be in keeping with the original tripartite agreement that governs the airport’s operations.

Geoff Wilson, CEO of PortsToronto, formerly known as the Toronto Port Authority, said in an emailed statement that Air Canada has changed its view when it comes to jets at the island airport.

“It would appear that Air Canada has reversed its position on jets at the airport given that they had indicated publicly, and in conversations and correspondence to PortsToronto, that they would indeed be interested in flying jets from Billy Bishop Airport,” Wilson said.

Nearly two years ago, Porter Airlines dropped a bombshell when it announced it wanted to fly Bombardier’s new CSeries jets out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to expand its routes beyond regional flying.

But it had to win support — from the three parties who signed the tripartite agreement that governs airport operations — to lift the current ban on jets as well as get the runway lengthened. It would require a 200-metre extension at each end for these jets, which are still in the development stage.

PortsToronto, which operates the airport, has insisted it takes no position on Porter’s proposal, though it is spending millions on a series of studies including a runway design and environmental assessment.

Transport Canada is essentially deferring any stand until after Toronto City Council weighs in. City council punted any vote until later this year, pending completion of the studies.

Air Canada has long complained about access at the island airport — and even threatened to pull out its operations in January, citing high fees and charges at the terminal, which was controlled by Porter Airlines.

Porter’s parent company has since sold the terminal building for an undisclosed amount to a consortium led by InstarAGF Asset Management that includes Kilmer Van Nostrand, the private investment holding company of Toronto construction industry magnate and MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum.

Porter Airlines spokesman Brad Cicero said Air Canada’s new release is “simply a recycling of what’s been said in the past.”

He noted that Porter no longer controls the terminal, but the airline continues to pay the same rates as Air Canada.

“What’s always been clear is that Air Canada doesn’t want competition on new routes like Vancouver, Miami and San Francisco that Porter would provide with jets,” Cicero said in an email.

Air Canada only has 30 takeoff and landing slots, which means it only offers daily round-trip flights between Toronto’s island and Montreal. Porter controls the remaining 172 slots for commercial airlines.

PortsToronto has always said it has no plans to add slots, though in a preliminary airport master plan, released Tuesday, it says if jets are permitted, the number of slots could grow to 242.

In October 2013, Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu said in an interview with The Star that the airline was keeping a close watch on Porter’s proposal.

Rovinescu said when approval for the island airport was granted, it was on the basis it would be for short-haul commuter flights.

He did say, however, if there was to be any expansion to permit jets, then Air Canada would want access. “We would absolutely, categorically, expect to fly our jets there,” Rovinescu said at the time.

Norman Di Pasquale, chair of NoJetsTO, said the citizens’ group is pleased Air Canada is taking a strong stand against jets.

“They are a carrier at the island airport. I think their voice has some extra credibility,” he said. “They understand the business model. They see turboprops as a viable option as should the Toronto Port Authority.”

Di Pasquale added that his group echoes Air Canada’s concerns that PortsToronto is favouring Porter Airlines over other operators.

Air Canada’s Vanstone argues that Billy Bishop airport can “prosper and grow” as a turboprop airport, serving communities within the two-hour range.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for growth at this airport which is being completely ignored by the PortsToronto management,” he said. “This focus on the interests of a single stakeholder is simply irresponsible when you consider that PortsToronto is an agency of the federal government who has a mandate to operate this public asset in the public interest.”