Canwest News Service

The Toronto Port Authority is poised to expand significantly the number of commercial flights operating out of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport next year once the new terminal is complete, a move that could boost the number of flights by as much as 77%.

The Port Authority is anticipating that between 42 and 92 new commercial flights — an increase of between 35% and 77% over the current 120 commercial flights operated by Porter Airlines — may be added in the second half of 2010, based on the results of a noise impact study and capacity assessment completed by a third-party aviation consulting firm.

The study, by Jacobs Consultancy, examined noise guidelines, hours of operation of the airport, impacts of early morning and late evening flights on the neighbouring community, usage by leisure aircrafts and helicopters, and the availability of parking and transportation options to and from Eireann Quay, among other things.

The TPA says it will examine the study's findings to determine the number of daily commercial flights and type of equipment the airport will be able to accommodate in the coming years.

The announcement was made in a press release posted on the Toronto Port Authority's website on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

"Based upon the informal requests we've received from commercial carriers, demand for new slots far exceeds the supply available," Mark Mc-Queen, chairman of the TPA Board of Directors, said in a statement.

He said while the airport is an attractive facility for passengers and carriers, it is modest in size and is governed by an agreement limiting the number of daily commercial flights.

The TPA says the job of determining which airlines will occupy new commercial flight slots will be appointed to an independent, International Air Transport Association-accredited coordinator who will act "as a neutral party during commercial carrier negotiations and be responsible for awarding slots based on internationally recognized processes."

Brian Iler, chair of Community Air, a grassroots organization intent on shutting down the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport over noise and pollution concerns, said he was surprised to learn of the potential number of additional flights outlined in the study.

"Our understanding from previous studies that have been done is that the limit is around 116 slots total," Mr. Iler said. "Transport Canada is so keen in making sure Porter and whoever else wants to use that airport use it, that they play games with the rules. It's very frustrating for the communities that are affected by all this noise."

In November, the City Centre Terminal Corp. (owned by Porter Aviation Holdings Inc.) announced that it was accepting inquiries from commercial airlines seeking check-in counter and gate space at the new terminal, which will include 10 bridged aircraft gates, customs and immigration facilities, and a mix of retail and food services.

To date, however, no carriers have approached the Terminal Corp. to utilize the new terminal.