CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
Porter Airlines' new home is a larger, fancier version of its predecessor with enough extra room for a future duty-free shop, cafés, shoeshine service and U.S. customs pre-clearance.
The first phase of the new 150,000-square-foot, $50-million terminal - scheduled to open March 7, but unveiled at a preview yesterday - also paves the way for more commercial flights and two new carriers at the island airport.
"This improves our ability to serve the passengers who are demanding this kind of facility," Mark McQueen, chairman of the Toronto Port Authority, said.
The port authority, the federal agency that oversees the newly christened Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, is expected to announce within 10 days the final number of commercial slots - takeoffs and landings - allowed at the airport, Mr. McQueen said.
The figure has been the subject of speculation since the TPA announced on Dec. 24 that a third-party study had concluded the airport could accommodate an additional 42 to 92 slots when the second phase of the new terminal is complete next fall. Porter currently has access to 120 slots daily.
Once the number of commercial slots is determined, the International Air Transport Association is expected to divvy up the new slots between Porter and two new carriers, one of which is believed to be Air Canada's regional airline, Jazz.
The new terminal's lounge is larger than its predecessor and features 15 computers, double the number at the existing lounge. Otherwise, many of the amenities Porter hopes to offer in the new space - including a duty-free shop and other retail - have yet to be built. The City Centre Terminal Corp. is seeking tenants now.
Although the new terminal has space for U.S. Customs pre-clearance, the airport hasn't received the go-ahead from Washington.
"It's our view that U.S. customs pre-clearance is probably something that will be available in due course, particularly as the number of [Porter]passengers that we're moving increases," Mr. Deluce said.
The airport's growth rankles some community groups on the Toronto Islands, the waterfront and elsewhere in the city.
About 30 people protested before the terminal preview yesterday, said Brian Iler, the chair of CommunityAIR, which advocates for shuttering the island airport.
"We don't know how they're going to jam enough flights into the airport to justify the new terminal," he said, adding that his group believes adding as many as 92 more daily commercial landings and takeoffs would violate the agreement between the TPA, the city and Ottawa that governs the airport.
"I understand that they have a campaign to shut the airport and they will use any tool they can to achieve their ends," Mr. McQueen responded. "But they're wrong."
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Porter's new terminal
112,500 sq. ft.
Size of Phase 1, unveiled yesterday
150,000 sq. ft.
Size when complete next fall
10
Number of gates when terminal is finished
2
Number of lounges when finished, one for domestic departures, one for U.S. departures
$50-million
Cost of new terminal
March 7 Opening day of Phase 1
120
Number of daily slots currently allocated to Porter Airlines
42 to 92
Additional commercial slots the airport will be able to accommodate when terminal is complete