Porter welcomes Bombardier CSeries aircraft maiden flight

TORONTO, Sept. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Porter Airlines representatives were on hand today for the successful maiden flight of Bombardier's CSeries aircraft at the manufacturer's Mirabel, Quebec, facility.

Porter has signed a conditional purchase order for 12 Bombardier CS100 aircraft, with options for an additional 18 CS100 aircraft. The agreement also includes purchase rights for six Q400 NextGen aircraft. Delivery of Porter's first CS100 aircraft would be in 2016. The total purchase value could reach $2.29 billion US, if all options and purchase rights are exercised.

"This is a special day for Canadian aviation," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "It is not every day that an entirely new aircraft design takes to the sky and it was a privilege to witness it.

"The CS100 will be the aircraft that takes Porter passengers even further throughout North America in just a few years."

Porter has ordered its CS100 aircraft in a 107 seat configuration that is ideal for operating from its home base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and will make it possible to serve new destinations, such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Florida and the Caribbean.

Porter's use of the CS100 is contingent on approval from the three operating partners for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport - the federal government, City of Toronto and Toronto Port Authority - allowing jet service and a modest runway extension at the airport. This review is currently underway with a city council vote scheduled for December.

"We look forward to Bombardier's test program validating the aircraft's performance, fuel efficiency and sound profile," added Deluce. "This is a revolutionary advancement in aircraft technology that Porter is excited to be associated with."

Further details of Porter's growth plans are available at www.porterplans.com.

About Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines has revolutionized short-haul flying with a warm and effortless approach to hospitality, restoring glamour and refinement to air travel. Porter is an Official 4 Star Airline® in the World Airline Star Rating® by Skytrax, and rated second in the world in Condé Nast Traveler's Readers Choice Awards Top Small Airlines category. 

The airline currently offers flights to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, Halifax, St. John's, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, Windsor, New York (Newark), Chicago (Midway), Boston, Washington (Dulles) and has seasonal flights to Mt. Tremblant, Que., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Burlington, Vt. Vacation packages are available from Porter Escapes at www.porterescapes.com.

Visit www.flyporter.com or call [phone] for more information.

SOURCE: Porter Airlines Inc.

Media contact: Brad Cicero, Porter Airlines, [phone] / [phone]