I've just started a new discussion forum where we can chat about Canadian airlines, airports, and flights within Canada and to International destinations.

There is also a section to post travel deals, seat sales, and travel coupons.

CanadianSkies.com

Porter Airlines will be flying into the Halifax airport this summer.

Porter Airlines will launch summer service to Halifax from Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA) via Montreal and Ottawa beginning June 29 until Sept. 4.

There will be 4 flights daily from Toronto to Halifax with two via Ottawa and two via Montreal.

"Halifax presents an exciting opportunity for Porter. We will deliver some much-needed competition to this important Canadian market and do it in the style our passengers have come to appreciate," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "Since our launch, we have done very well with business travel on the Toronto to Montreal and Ottawa routes. Halifax extends the business market while providing significant new leisure capacity. We will also be assessing the opportunity for year-round service."

Initial one-way fares will start at $199 on all Halifax routes.
Reservations are immediately available on Porter's website www.flyporter.com, through its call centre at 1-888-619-8622 or 416-619-8622, or through registered travel agents.

Customers can choose from Freedom, Flexible and Firm fare types that provide varying options including complimentary changes and cancellations, advance seat selection and same-day changes at the airport. The website also allows for advance check-in.

At the heart of Porter's philosophy is a desire to reintroduce
convenience, speed and seamless service to air travel. Travellers will benefit from Porter's customer-focused approach that includes complimentary in-flight food and beverage service. Porter's hub, Toronto City Centre Airport, is one of the most convenient urban airports in the world and is just minutes from Toronto's financial core and most popular tourist destinations.

Porter currently operates 70-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. Manufactured at Bombardier's Downsview plant in north Toronto, the Q400 is the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its class and burns less fuel per seat than most regional jets. With leather seating, extended legroom and a 650 km/h cruising speed, the Q400 sets new standards for comfort, fuel efficiency and low emissions.

Lockhart Air is a northwestern Ontario charter airline service that operates out of Sioux Lookout.

Founder Howard Lockhart, who as operated Lockhart Air since 1988, has sold the business to two of his employees: Danielle and Derrick Flynn.

Lockhart Air Services has a fleet of four aircraft (twin-engine Cessna's) and provides both passenger and freight services.

Porter Airlines has increased its service between Toronto and Montreal. There will now be 9 round trips each work day, 2 round trips on Saturday, and 4 on Sunday.

"Passengers are responding to the time savings of up to two hours they gain on round-trip flights by flying from the island airport and the focus that Porter has on service," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "It's the perfect time to offer more flights on the Montreal-Toronto route with business travel picking up after the holidays."

Porter Airlines now has four 70-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft, and employ 200.

Source:
Porter Airlines increases Montreal-Toronto flights to 9 a day (Porter Airlines Press Release)

Porter Airlines took flight today with two scheduled flights leaving Toronto and Ottawa simultaneously at 7am.

Porter Airlines has 10 round trip flights scheduled between the Toronto City Centre Airport and Ottawa each weekday. On weekends, two round trips are scheduled.

"This is a great day for travellers looking for competition, convenience and real value when they fly," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "We're looking forward to adding destinations in the coming months."

Travellers on Porter Airlines aircraft will enjoy their complimentary in-flight food and beverage service. Free shuttle buses are provided from the city centre airport to downtown Toronto. There is also a lounge at the Toronto City Centre Airport with a complimentary espresso bar, beverages, snacks, and wireless Internet access with computer workstations.

Right now, Porter Airlines has two Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. There are 20 available seats (leather!) for passengers with extended legroom. These aircraft were manufactured in Bombardier's plant in Downsview (north Toronto). The cruising speed of these aircraft is 650 km/h.

Plans are in place to expand Porter Airlines service to 17 short-haul Canadian and U.S. destinations within a 500 nautical mile range of the Toronto City Centre Airport.

Source:
Porter Airlines takes flight (Porter Airlines Press Release)
Porter Airlines Inc. Website (flyporter.com)

Some people who live on the Toronto Islands and in Toronto's Lakeshore Condos are calling for a public boycott of Porter Air, the new airlines that is set to launch from Toronto's City Centre Airport on Monday morning.

Not everyone is ready to boycott the new Porter Air. After all, a flight into the Toronto Islands would save the time and hassle of battling Toronto commuting traffic.

"Just the ease of being able to get there in a few minutes, compared with the Gardiner [Expressway], has got to be inviting," said Anne Bell, a partner with an accounting service firm on King Street West. "There wouldn't be any reason why myself and my associates wouldn't look into it in the future."

Porter Air plans to fly 10 flights a day between downtown Toronto and Ottawa.

Sources:
Porter Air set to fly amid call for boycott (Globe and Mail)
Porter Airlines (flyporter.com)

Stephen Smith, the former president of WestJet, is targeting Hamilton Ontario as a key site for his company's air taxi service. Smith purchased the Canadian franchise rights for the Earthjet air taxi service.

An air taxi operating out of Hamilton would allow a quick commute to Toronto, rather than relying on congested highway travel.

The idea could still be 2-4 years away. Earthjet is still looking for a manufacturer who can create their desired fleet of aircraft - airplanes that are small, 5-6 seats, and will be able to fly into regional and major airports (maximum flight = 1600 km).

The next step would be finding franchise owners to run the air taxi service from airports across Canada.

Earthjet hopes to see hundreds of these aircraft operating eventually. The company envisions leather seated planes with a self-serve drink service and a private washroom.

Smith plans to sell the seats at a price that would be competitive with major carriers.

Source:
Air taxis focus on Hamilton - Pilots sought for franchise scheme
Microjets could be flying in two years (Toronto Star)

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Air Canada has decided to ban pets from being allowed to fly in the cabin with their owners.

This move was initiated after hearing from allergy sufferers who had horrible experiences after flying with a cat or a dog under neighbouring seats.

The ban will begin September 18th, 2006.

Pets are still allowed in the cabins of WestJet aircrafts.

Clive Beddoe, co-founder of WestJet, has handed the reins of the company over to Sean Durfy.

Beddoe isn't leaving the company, but sees value in bringing new energy and youthfulness into the role of President.

"I am not leaving the company, I'm not going, I am very much involved and will remain actively involved," Beddoe said at a press conference Thursday morning.

"There's no reason for anybody in the company or our shareholders to be concerned that in any respect that I am leaving."

Source:
WestJet cofounder Clive Beddoe hands over president's role to Sean Durfy (CBC)

CanJet Airlines has announced it will be terminating its scheduled flights this Sunday. CanJet will focus on charter flights instead.

CanJet had been serving 14 Canadian and U.S. cities.

The change in service is blamed on escalating airport and air-traffic control fees, high fuel prices and fierce competition from Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd.

Most of CanJet's 470 employees and managers will lose their jobs. This number includes about 95 pilots and 125 flight attendants. A small number of employees will stay on to keep CanJet's chartered flights operating through the winter season to sunspots. The fate of 250 other CanJet positions has yet to be determined, but some of those workers will be offered jobs at the discount airline's parent, IMP Group International Inc. of Halifax.

Source:
CanJet's big-carrier plan parked in hangar - Airline to cancel scheduled service - Globe and Mail

Air Canada Jazz plans to resume its flights out of the Toronto Island Airport by August.

"The new ferry service and facilities being constructed by the Toronto Port Authority starting this summer are making it possible for Air Canada to enhance operations from City Centre," said Air Canada vice-president Ben Smith in a release.

10 round trip flights are planned between the Toronto Island Airport and Ottawa during the week. Seven round trip flights are planned to Montreal as well as weekend service to Montreal.

Source:
Air Canada Jazz to fly from Toronto Island airport again

Bearskin Airlines has as new plane and a new corporate look.

The company unveiled these changes on Tuesday as they welcomed their new Fairchild Metroliner aircraft into its fleet.

This newest aircraft will increase Bearskin's frequency of flights in North Eastern Ontario. Currently the airline has nine planes in service, that will all soon carry the new bear paw print logo.

A new airline in Ontario, Porter Airlines, will soon begin operating flights between Ottawa and Toronto's island airport.

The privately owned Porter Airlines says it will service the route with 70-passenger, Bombardier Q400 turbo-prop airplanes.

A news conference will be held later today to reveal scheduling details.

Air Canada has a new plane on its fleet - its the Brazilian-made Embraer E190.

On Thursday, the new plane arrived in Edmonton to being direct, year round, service to Montreal.

Air Canada has an order in for 45 Embraers. They will be used to service their North American routes, including the Edmonton-Ottawa and the Newfoundland Express, the Fort McMurray - St. John's flights which start April 8.

Perks of the Embraer E190:

• seats 93
• more fuel efficient - has a five-and-a-half hour range
• more leg room - 36 inches in executive class and 33 inches in hospitality
• two rows of double seats - no more middle seats!
• state-of-the-art digital personal entertainment system, with pre-recorded news, music, TV shows, movies and games on an 8.9-inch screen - you can even pause the playback if you need to leave your seat!
• bigger overhead storage bins
• wider aisles
• 2 metre high cabin height

Source:
New jets fly Air Canada into future - Embraer fleet to be used on Edmonton-Montreal route (The Edmonton Journal)