Wed, Apr 23, 2008
Porter Airlines Loses Two Of Seven Routes Into Newark
The FAA's recent decision to impose caps on hourly operations at
Newark Liberty International Airport has been criticized in some
circles as a blunt instrument... and now one Canadian airline says
the FAA caps could put it out of business.
The Globe and Mail reports Porter Airlines, based at Toronto
City Centre Airport, has filed a complaint with the FAA. Porter
claims it bought two new Bombardier Q400 turboprops -- at a cool
$26 million apiece -- then spent another $4 million upgrading its
terminal in Toronto, and hired 70 people to support its planned
expanded service between Toronto and Newark.
The FAA's ruling changes that plan, however. Porter, which just
began service in October 2006, says the loss of two of its seven
daily flights into Newark due to the new caps will impact the
company, "...at a critical stage in its development and result in a
schedule that is not economically viable."
The carrier insists its turboprops are able to use runway 11/29
at Newark, which is too short for jets, and fly at underutilized
low-altitude turboprop airspace around Newark and New York --
essentially making its operations a non-issue in the overall
congestion picture.
Porter is not the only Canadian airline upset with the FAA's
congestion remedies. The agency has also been told by Air Canada
its higher fees for peak hours at New York's JFK International
Airport are unreasonable and discriminatory.
The Montreal-based carrier says it has little choice but to fly
at peak times which allow passengers to connect with other flights,
leaving it to face "potentially significant increases in Air
Canada's costs at congested airports like JFK, without any
corresponding benefit to the airline."
Air Canada tells the paper it's also worried the FAA will
introduce fee policy changes affecting all US airports.
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