Porter Airlines ready to sell tickets in Toronto despite objections

Porter Airlines will begin taking reservations Tuesday amid protests seekingto shut down the Toronto City Centre Airport.

The privately owned airline will offer 10 round-trip flights each weekday to Ottawa, along with two round-trip flights on the weekend.

"After years of planning, we're thrilled to finally bring our vision to life with the official launch of our reservation system," Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines, said Monday in a release.

However, Bill Freeman, a spokesman for the residents' group Community Air, said Porter is detracting from efforts to revitalize the waterfront. Freeman hopes people will boycott the airline.

"We're disappointed, we think that it's going to be a huge mess for the waterfront," Freeman told CBC. "This is in the midst of Toronto's waterfront you know the great dream of Torontonians to revitalize their waterfront and what we have is an industrial use right in the heart of it."

Deluce disagreed, saying that his airline will, in fact, help the waterfront by drawing more people to the area. The airline is attempting to lure travellers seeking convenience with ferry services and a business lounge.

Toronto Mayor David Miller, who in 2003campaigned on a platformthat included blocking a bridge to the island, has opposed the launch of the new airline.

Air Canada Jazz cut its service from downtown Toronto on March 1, after it was evicted from the airport. Earlier this summer, the regional carrier announced plans to restore commuter daily service to Ottawa and Montreal.

The Toronto Port Authority refused to approve a lease that would allow the carrier to use the island facilities.