Porter Airlines takes off despite protest

The first Porter Airlines flight took off Monday morning fromToronto's island airport, even as protesterscalled for a boycott of thecontroversial newairline.

The flight left at 7 a.m. for Ottawa, and is the first of 10 round-tripweekday runs the regional carrier plans to fly.

Several dozen people staged a rally in the Bathurst Street and Queen's Quay area to oppose the flights.

Community Air, the group organizing the protest, said they're calling for a boycott of Porter Airlines because a busy airport will destroy waterfront redevelopment plans.

"It is incompatible with what Torontonians want their dream of transforming the waterfront," said spokesman Bill Freeman.

Banking on convenience

But Porter Airlines CEO Robert Deluce isbanking on the number of downtown business people who are willing to pay for the convenience of a downtown airport instead oftravelling 25 kilometres fromthe city centreto the Lester B. Pearson International Airport.

Calling the Toronto City Centre Airport, "one of the most convenient urban airports in the world," an airline press release claims travellers can shave as much as two hours off a round-trip.

'I'm quite confident that Porter is here to stay.' -Joe D'Cruz, U of T

Deluce announced hisplan in February to fly regularly scheduled routes from the Toronto City Centre Airport, sparking protests from area residents.

However, some airline experts are calling Porter Airlines the most important addition to Canadian air travel since the introduction of WestJet.

"It's not every day that a successful, viable scheduled airline starts up," said Joe D'Cruz, an airline analyst with the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. "I'm quite confident that Porter is here to stay."

Election issue

The island airport was a major issue in the 2003 municipal election.David Miller, who became mayor after winning the election,opposed the planned construction of a bridge to the island, and scrappedit when elected into office.

The airport is again an election campaign issue with the 2006 municipal election just weeks away. Miller continues to oppose airport expansion, while mayoral candidates Jane Pitfield and Stephen LeDrew both support it.

Porter Airlines will run 10 round-trip flights each weekday between Toronto and Ottawa, with plans to expand to Montreal and New York City in the coming months.