U.S. preclearance gets a step closer at Toronto's Billy Bishop

On Friday last week, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport's desire to get U.S. preclearance took a big step forward when officials from the Government of Canada, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security joined with airport leaders for a special event. 

They gathered at the future site of the airport’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility, which has been made possible, at least in part by a $30 million investment by the Government of Canada. 

The Preclearance ability offers enhanced security to the border-crossing process while boosting the economies of both countries through facilitated travel between Canada and the United States.

According to recent figures, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is the 5th-busiest Canadian airport serving the United States, and the planned expansion of Preclearance to the airport will enhance passenger convenience by allowing U.S.-bound travellers to clear U.S. Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture inspection prior to takeoff. That would then mean passengers can bypass the customs and border protection inspections upon arrival in their U.S. destination.  

Preclearance also allows for a shared approach to security, which allows both countries to manage the border in a way that addresses shared security concerns, including managing threats early.

For the past year, DHS and CBP, in coordination with Transport Canada and Public Safety Canada, have been monitoring plans for the preparation of future Preclearance facilities at Billy Bishop Airport. DHS feels confident in the steps being taken and is now incorporating Billy Bishop in staffing and resource allocation planning and decisions.  While the start of operations must depend on the completion of each project milestone, progress is moving in the right direction.

RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, PortsToronto said:  "The ability to clear U.S. Customs on home soil will greatly enhance the passenger experience, and offer tremendous benefit to the City of Toronto and surrounding region as it will open new markets and amplify the benefits associated with the airport’s contribution to facilitating trade and tourism, creating jobs, supporting healthcare and driving innovation."

New Aspire | Air Canada Café opens today at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Air Canada has opened its newest Air Canada Café, in collaboration with Aspire, Swissport's premium lounge brand at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) for eligible Air Canada customers.

The new Aspire | Air Canada Café marks the 27th lounge in Air Canada's lounge network and the sixth Canadian location for Aspire. It is the only airline lounge at the Toronto downtown airport/ 

The 133-seat modern lounge at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport's domestic departures terminal and offers quiet workspaces, a private meeting room and premium food and drinks to stay or go are among the complimentary amenities in the café-style executive lounge.

"We know how much Air Canada customers, who travel frequently within the busy Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor, really value the convenience of flying out of Billy Bishop," said Jacqueline Harkness, Managing Director, Product & Services, Air Canada. "Our new Aspire | Air Canada Café at Billy Bishop builds upon the success of our first Air Canada Café at Toronto-Pearson, and is just one more way Air Canada continues to invest in the best lounge network in Canada."

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Air Canada on our first joint lounge concept," said Charles Roberge, CEO of Swissport Canada. "With this new addition, we continue to expand our lounge network in Canada and reinforce our commitment to providing exceptional services to our customers worldwide. Our newest lounge is Toronto's first Aspire Lounge and aims to be the first LEED-certified lounge in Swissport's international network of 63 Aspire lounges."

Advance Declaration now available at Ottawa International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is exploring safe, secure and innovative ways to deliver a better and faster border experience for travellers entering Canada.

Advance Declaration is available to all travellers arriving on international flights at the Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Express lanes will also be available in both airports’ customs areas, allowing travellers who complete their Advance Declaration to skip long line-ups for Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK).

The Advance Declaration provides travellers with the option to submit their customs and immigration declaration, up to 72 hours in advance of their arrival in Canada. Travellers can now spend less time at PIKs when they arrive at the airport, resulting in shorter wait times at the border.

In an effort to modernize and expedite the travel experience, Advance Declaration is already available to travellers arriving on international flights at the following Canadian airports:

Toronto Pearson

Montreal-Trudeau

Winnipeg Richardson

Vancouver

Halifax Stanfield

Québec City Jean-Lesage

Calgary

The digital tool will also become available to travellers arriving at Edmonton International Airport in the coming weeks.  

Advance Declaration is part of CBSA’s Traveller Modernization initiative, which is being implemented over the coming years. Modernizing the travel experience includes the use of digital technologies and tools for both travellers and border services officers. 

Eric Lapierre, Regional Director General, Northern Ontario Region, CBSA and Lisa Janes, Regional Director General, Greater Toronto Area Region, CBSA said: "With Advance Declaration and express lanes now available at Billy Bishop Toronto City and Ottawa International Airports, we are keeping our border secure while providing a better and faster experience for travellers. This is another example of how the CBSA is modernizing the border and we are happy to be working with Ports Toronto and Ottawa International Airport Authority to make this option available to travellers."

Air Canada to restart flights between Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport and Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport

Air Canada has confirmed it will resume services between Toronto's city centre Billy Bishop Airport on Toronto Island and Montreal with five daily flights from next Wednesday.

The airline says seats are on sale now and the flights will be operated by Dash 8-400s by Jazz and passengers will get a complimentary snack and drink during the flights. 

"We are pleased to restart our operations at Billy Bishop airport and offer our customers the choice to fly in and out of Toronto Island, which is popular among business travellers for its proximity to the city centre and its ability to connect travellers to our global network through Montreal. Our schedule enables travellers to conveniently fly between Montreal and Toronto Island Airport up to five times per day, linking the two key business and cultural centres as we continue to play our part to reinvigorate Canada's economy. We look forward to welcoming our customers back on board and expanding our daily service as more traffic returns," said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.

Air Canada's Toronto Island-Montreal Service

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Days of Operation
AC7952	Toronto at 07:15	Montreal at 08:27	Daily
AC7958	Toronto at 10:20	Montreal at 11:33	Daily
AC7970	Toronto at 16:15	Montreal at 17:28	Daily
AC7976	Toronto at 17:15	Montreal at 18:28	Daily
AC7974	Toronto at 18:20	Montreal at 19:33	Daily
AC7959	Montreal at 07:30	Toronto at 08:49	Daily
AC7955	Montreal at 08:30	Toronto at 09:49	Daily
AC7965	Montreal at 13:30	Toronto at 14:49	Daily
AC7971	Montreal at 16:30	Toronto at 17:49	Daily
AC7975	Montreal at 18:30	Toronto at 19:49	Daily

Air Canada offers its customers a complimentary shuttle bus service between downtown and Toronto City Airport. The shuttle brings travellers to and from the west entrance of The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, located at the corner of Front and York streets, directly across from Union Station.

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Porter Airlines makes surprise order for up to 80 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft........

The Billy Bishop Toronto airport-based Porter Airlines is extending its wings and going further than ever before, if it can raise the funds for a massive purchase of up to 80 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.

These jets have a transcontinental range and are scheduled to enter into service with the Canadian air carrier in the second half of 2022. However, these jets are not able to operate out of Porter's home base of the city centre Billy Bishop airport, so the carrier is opening up new bases including at Toronto's main international airport Pearson. That means going head to head with the much larger and stronger Air Canada and WestJet. 

The airline says it will fly the Embraer E195-E2s to popular destinations from Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax as well as Toronto Pearson International Airport. The firm hasn't indicated which destinations will be chosen or from which base yet, but says details of the specific routes will be determined in advance of aircraft deliveries.

The Brazillian made jets accommodate between 120 and 146 passengers and Porter says they will feature a passenger-focused cabin design, emphasizing space and comfort which complements Porter’s traditional service offering.  The configuration resembles the airline's De Havilland Dash-8/Bombardier Q400 aircraft with two seats an aisle and then another two seats, so nobody is stuck in the middle of a row. These aircraft will also have large cabin windows, big overhead bins and mood lighting.

A new airline will be coming to Toronto's Billy Bishop City Airport this October.......

A new airline is all set to start operating this October, from Billy Bishop City Airport in Toronto in direct competition with Porter which also operates out of the same city centre airport. And, just like Porter,  this new airline will be using Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft to service various destinations in the Northeast and the Midwest areas of the United States.

The new carrier will be called Connect Airlines and is the brainchild of Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA) which is an FAA licensed Part 135 private jet charter operator based in Bedford,  Massachusetts. The company has been going since June 2008 and has operated thousands of hours of safe and reliable flying out of the Boston area.

WMA owns and operates both its own aircraft as well as managed aircraft and believes in utilizing the latest technology to ensure the safest operations. The current aircraft are equipped with the latest avionics that allows for landings with lower visibility conditions than most aircraft.

Connect Airlines aims to offer a premium style service for day-tripping business travellers direct into Toronto's downtown island Billy Bishop airport, subject to regulatory approvals.  John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of WMA, comments: "We are passionate about how aviation brings people, cultures and business together. Especially in these challenging times, we are committed to delivering the world's most rewarding premium travel experience with safety, service, convenience and reliability."

Hydraulic system failure the likely cause of Port Airlines Q400 heavy landing at Hamilton

Photo Kurt Greul

A failure in the hydraulic system is said to be the main cause of the heavy emergency landing of a Porter Airlines Bombardier Q400 which burst all main landing gear tyres on June 18th at Hamilton, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). 

The aircraft was operating Porter flight 458 from Montreal to Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto when the "flight crew experienced hydraulic issues and declared an emergency" said the TSA.  The plane, registration C-GLQB was made by Bombardier and delivered to the Canadian regional airline during 2006.

Robert Deluce appointed executive chairman at Porter Airlines as part of leadership reorganization

Big moves at the top of the Canadian regional airline that operates out of Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. Porter Airlines has confirmed this week that it is reorganizing its top management to ensure continuity for its immediate and future development.

Effective immediately, Robert Deluce, Porter’s founding president and CEO, assumes the new role of executive chairman, enhancing his existing responsibilities as a member of the board of directors, while staying engaged in Porter’s core business strategies. He also remains as the company’s accountable executive for Transport Canada.

This change is supported by a series of realigned executive responsibilities. Michael Deluce now takes on president and CEO duties. As a founding team member at Porter, Michael was instrumental in defining Porter’s successful business plan, commercial and brand strategies, and has been a key part of realising that vision in the role of executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to use SITA technology

SITA has been selected by Nieuport Aviation Infrastructure Partners (Nieuport Aviation), the owner and operator of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), to provide terminal management technology to efficiently manage its operations.  With service to over 2.8 million passengers annually, Nieuport Aviation is dedicated to making investments that will result in an exceptional passenger experience at this award-winning airport.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is owned and operated by PortsToronto, continues to attract more and more leisure and business travelers who prefer its proximity to downtown, unique passenger service and choice of more than 20 destinations in Canada and the U.S., with connection opportunities to more than 80 international destinations via its airlines’ networks.

Porter to start Muskoka service in June

RMS Segwun, Muskoka            Photo Explorers' Edge

The Canadian regional airline based at the small but perfectly formed Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto, Porter Airlines recently confirmed it would be introducing a service to Muskoka Airport this summer.

Muskoka has established itself among the world’s iconic summer retreats and the new Porter flight will operate twice a week - every Thursday and Monday from 27th June until 3rd September. The flying time between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Muskoka Airport is just twenty minutes and will be timed to connect with Porters growing route network from its Toronto base.

“Muskoka is an inspiring destination that attracts travellers from near and far,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “This new route serves as a great opportunity to link Muskoka to our North American network.”

Porter's Newfoundland 2019 schedule

The Canadian regional air carrier, Porter Airlines recently released its 2019 schedule for Stephenville, Newfoundland which will feature 48 round-trip flights operating between Halifax, starting May 4th this year and run through until January 8th, 2020. 

We are ready to begin our sixth year of service in Stephenville,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines. “It is an important route for locals and an opportunity for visitors to access a unique area of the province.”

Myrtle Beach is calling........

Photo Porter Airlines

Now is the time to start planning your escape from Toronto says local airline Porter Airlines as sales continue for its seasonal service to Myrtle Beach.

Beginning February 13th, to May 19th, 2019, Porter offers non-stop flights directly from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Flights operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with added frequency during March Break. Tickets are available now through www.flyporter.com or your travel agent.

"The warm air and ocean breezes of Myrtle Beach are just two-hours away with Porter," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines. "It's the perfect time of year to think about getting away for a few days of relaxation."

Canada's Porter Airlines flies to Melbourne........

Canadian regional airline that is based at Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport, Porter Airlines are hoping to attract more snowbirds to head south for the winter with its service to Orlando.

The airline flies down to Orlando-Melbourne International Airport nonstop with services from Toronto, Ottawa, and Windsor begin the week of 19th December and run until 13th April.  The Toronto service flies twice weekly, while the Ottawa and Windsor operates once a week each during peak periods. All three cities will have additional round-trip flights during March Spring Break.

"There is significant demand from Canadians to visit Florida throughout the winter months, and we're pleased to provide our passengers with service to the sunshine state," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "Continuing to offer non-stop service from Toronto, Windsor, and Ottawa means that more people can visit Florida directly from their own communities."

Orlando-Melbourne is a key gateway to Florida, located just 20 minutes from Port Canaveral – the world's second-largest cruise port. Just 30 minutes from Kennedy Space Center and less than 10 minutes from the beach. Popular entertainment venues, including theme parks, museums, and wildlife attractions are within an hour's drive.

Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport records its busiest ever summer.

PortsToronto, owners and operators of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, confirmed earlier this week, that it experienced its busiest summer on record with 817,171 passengers arriving and departing through the airport from June to August 2018. Both Porter Airlines and Air Canada contributed to the high passenger numbers, which were a combination of leisure and business travellers.

More than 817,000 Passengers passed through Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport from June to August!

Porter Airlines to close its own frequent flyer programme and join Aeroplan

The Canadian regional airline Porter Airlines has signed a deal with Aimia Inc to become a comprehensive partner and be designated as a preferred Canadian airline to issue Aeroplan Miles on Porter routes with effect from July 2020. 

The carrier will then also become a redemption partner, offering up to 60% of seat inventory for the purchase of flights with Aeroplan Miles at fixed-rate prices. "This is a unique opportunity for Porter to join a well-established travel loyalty program and, in the future, reach its vast member base to aggressively promote our airline," said Michael Deluce, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Porter Airlines. "Our current VIPorter members will benefit from Aeroplan's enhanced range of loyalty services, with an ability to earn and redeem points with a growing network of airlines and other brands."

Passengers with points already accrued in VIPorter will see their value dropped as they will be converted into Aeroplan Miles in 2020, however, they will be able to spend those points in a more varied way in the future. 

"Today's announcement with Porter is consistent with our strategy to further differentiate and strengthen our air offering come July 2020," said Jeremy Rabe, Chief Executive Officer. The announcement comes just days after Aimia rejected a take over bid from Air Canada, Visa and two Canadian banks for Aeroplan. Aimia said the Air Canada bid of $325 million was far to low, insisting its base selling price would be around $450 million.  Air Canada’s chief executive Calin Rovinescu said Friday the offer was more than what Aeroplan was worth, “It was, in fact, at a substantial premium and extremely generous, given the $2 billion unfunded redemption liability of Aeroplan that the consortium would be accepting. We believe there is no other party out there prepared to accept this $2 billion liability, nor any other buyers for the company.”

Porter's new basic low fare only

The Canadian airline based at Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport, Porter, has said it is bringing in a new low-level fare level as it moves towards a more low-cost-carrier model.

The new Porter basic fares is a non-changeable and non-flexible kind of ticket with no luggage or cabin baggage allowed, however, passengers will still be able to avail themselves of the free beverages and snacks onboard. The pre-allocating of seats is also allowed for a fee, starting at £24.

"This product appeals to the most price-conscious traveller," said Michael Deluce, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Porter Airlines. "The Basic fare will attract new customers who are looking for the lowest price. Like all Porter fares, it includes our award winning Flying Refined service."

Basic fares are now available on select routes: Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins and Windsor. The intention is to make them available on additional routes over a period of time.

Still hope for Porter's CSeries dreams.....

Toronto's Porter Airlines hasn't let go of the dream of flying Bombardier CSeries 100 jets from the small, but beautiful Billy Bishop Airport, its CEO revealed last week.  

Speaking with Canada's Finacial Post the airlines chief executive Robert Deluce said “We continue to be of the view that it is not really a question of if, it’s a question of when,” and confirmed the airline hadn't yet walked away from its deal with Bombardier for 30 CSeries jet aircraft. Indeed, Porter Airlines still have the deposits in place with the manufacturer, despite the Canadian government decided not to allow jet aircraft from using Billy Bishop. 

Mr Deluce remains positive, “I think there is significant growth opportunity available to us. Whether that comes with additional regional routes, or whether a second fleet type gives us the longer-range destinations that come with flying an airplane like the CSeries, that will play out in due course.” 

Back in 2013 when the order was announced, Deluce said “The aircraft fits perfectly into our business plans and growth strategy and we are also proud to be the Canadian launch customer for Bombardier’s CSeries aircraft.  We look forward to expanding our network with an all-Bombardier fleet of CS100 jetliners and Q400 turboprops – promoting greener, quieter flying.”

Experience summer in Mont Tremblant

A hidden paradise, a hikers heaven are just two ways to describe arguably eastern North America's best ski resort, in summer! Nestled in Québec’s Laurentian Mountains, Mont-Tremblant exudes a wonderful natural beauty that captures the heart and soul from the second you arrive.

The most scenic airports in the world.......

Donegal Airport is the most scenic airport according to Private Fly.
The tiny Irish airport took the top slot following a global poll by Private Fly, really captured the hearts and minds of travellers. As you approach the airport you have amazing views of the Atlantic coast and golden sand of Carrickfin beach. 
The beach of Barra came in second as the most scenic airport, which is a little unusual as it isn't exactly an airport, just a beach which therefore arrivals and departures are only really possible during low tides and services by twin otter aircraft. However, for few that arrive, it is a very scenic place to set down.

Billy Bishop Airport Named One of North America's Best at the Skytrax World Airport Awards

Last night, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport was named one of North America's best airports at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, which are voted on by air travellers in the largest annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. Billy Bishop Airport was ranked the tenth best regional airport in North America, and also ranked the tenth best airport globally in the under 5 million passenger category.