Island airport's success may mean waterfront parking lot

Toronto Star:  October 22, 2009

Paul Moloney

A dramatic jump in passenger traffic at the island airport has triggered interest among other airlines and fears the airport's controlling agency wants to build a giant parking lot along the waterfront.

The laceName w:st="on">TorontolaceName> laceType w:st="on">CitylaceType> laceName w:st="on">CentrelaceName> laceType w:st="on">AirportlaceType> airport handled 500,000 passengers last year, compared with only 25,000 annually before Porter Airlines came on the scene, and that number is expected to hit 750,000 this year.

The Toronto Port Authority announced last week that other carriers have asked about setting up shop there, although it refused to name them.

On Tuesday, it announced that Air Canada Jazz, which once operated at the island and wants to return, had dropped a lawsuit launched against the port in Ontario Superior Court in early 2006. The airline is, however, continuing its lawsuit in federal court, which seeks access to the facility and damages from loss of business caused by not operating on the island, said Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick.

"The bottom line is Air Canada is seeking fair and equal access to what is a federally-owned and operated facility, the Toronto island airport," Fitzpatrick said. "The goal is to return to the island."

Meanwhile, U.S. carriers that have been mentioned as possible tenants include Houston-based Continental Airlines, which flies the same Bombardier Q400 turboprop plane Porter uses. Continental did not respond to calls seeking comment.

The renewed interest comes just weeks after the port authority shelved a plan to build a $38 million tunnel connecting the airport to the mainland, which didn't draw the hoped-for federal infrastructure money, and the announcement that airport foe Mayor David Miller doesn't intend to run again.

All of this has Councillor Adam Vaughan worrying that the port authority is looking longingly at the derelict, city-owned Canada Malting silos site as an opportunity to expand its airport parking facilities, potentially by 600 spots.

Currently, there are only about 220 parking spots near the ferry that takes passengers to the island.

"Of course there is a need for more parking. There is growing demand for parking," said Anthony Pappalardo, vice-president of Stolport Corp., which manages the lot.