It looks like the Island Airport is about to get a whole lot busier. 

 

This is an article by Brent Jang in the Globe and Mail's Report on Business called, "Air Canada takes helm in fight for island airport access"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/the-law-page/air-canada-takes-helm-in-fight-for-island-airport-access/article1517858/

 

and this is the Toronto Star's article on the same story entitled: "Air Canada lauds right to challenge Porter hold on airport," by Brendan Kennedy

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/787810--air-canada-wins-right-to-challenge-porter-s-hold-on-island-airport

 

Both stories have the same details.  Air Canada has been given the right to petition the Federal Court in order to challenge the Port Authority's decision on the allocation of slots (take offs and landings) at the Island Airport. 

 

The articles say that Porter currently has been allocated 120 slots a day.  On Christmas Eve the Toronto Port Authority announced that between 42 and 92 additional slots will be available.  Porter has applied for at least half of the new slots. 

 

Air Canada is contesting that decision in court.  They want to fly 15 daily round trips out of the Island Airport to Ottawa and Montreal and another seven trips to Newark, New Jersey.  That would total 44 slots, a massive increase. 

 

No one is listening to the complaints of the residents and in fact neither of the two articles mention the huge opposition to the expansion of the Island Airport.

 

Bill Freeman