Porter Airlines (P3, Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre) plans to begin jet operations out of Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre airport took another step forward after the Toronto City Council (TCC) voted in favour of initiating talks that could lead to the airport's 1,216m-long runway 08/26 being extended and a 30-year old ban on jet operations there being lifted. Located on the Toronto Islands just 100m from the city's lakeshore, the airfield offers immediate access to Toronto's financial and tourist districts and is Canada's ninth busiest airport.

Canada's National Post says the TCC can now proceed with talks with the other two co-signatories on the Tripartite Agreement that governs use of the airport - Toronto's Port Authority, which manages the airport, and Transport Canada, the government body which oversees all aeronautical infrastructure throughout Canada. The talks will focus on proposed limits on passengers and flights out of the airport as well as the airfield's access to the mainland, which is currently restricted to a ferry.

The proposed airfield enhancements include airside improvements to accommodate growth and the future implementation of a 150-metre Runway End Safety Area (RESA).

"We have included the 150 metre RESA, which will be mandated by Transport Canada as a safety requirement in the coming years, in our request for a 200 metre extension on each end of the runway," Porter said.

The TPA will be hosting an all-day public meeting on Saturday, April 11 to review and discuss the Draft Study Design/Scope for the Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed introduction of jet aircraft and extension of the main runway at the airport.

In 2013, Porter, an all-turboprop carrier, unveiled plans to open up flights to Vancouver International, Los Angeles International, Las Vegas Harry Reid, Miami International and the Caribbean from its downtown Toronto hub using a fleet of thirty (twelve firm with eighteen options) A220-100s. However, the order with Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau) is conditional on Toronto City Centre being expanded to accommodate jets and the aircraft conforming to strict environmental and noise emission standards.

Though WestJet (WS, Calgary) has also expressed an interest in operating its incoming fleet of B737 MAX jets out of the airport, other operators such as Air Canada (AC, Montréal Trudeau) have expressed strong reservations to the planned expansion of Toronto City Centre Airport.

Air Canada claims that TPA's Master Plan will only serve to further the interests of one airline - Porter Airlines - which is the largest operator out of the airport with 85% of the 202 available slots.

The carrier claims that no consideration appears to have been given to expanding turboprop operations at the airport (the preferred approach of Air Canada) as opposed to being a balanced review of other options for growth. Air Canada says Toronto City Centre could continue to prosper as an exclusively turboprop airport serving communities within a two-hour range thereby abrogating the need for jet operations.

In addition, it claims the TPA has said that the 40 additional slots created by the expansion would likely be awarded to private jet operators – further reducing the number of slots available to commercial carriers such as Air Canada.

"We want fair and appropriate access to slots for Air Canada and other carriers to encourage real competition at Billy Bishop, similar to the situation that we find at other airports across the country where Porter has the ability to commence jet service at any time. Currently, Porter Airlines has been awarded over 85% of the slots and we are unable to serve more than one market, Montreal, despite huge demand from our customers for Ottawa International, New York JFK/New York Newark and other short haul markets," Derek Vanstone, Air Canada's Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Government and Industry Affairs, said. "Moreover, if the slot growth at the airport was capped as proposed, and even if Air Canada was awarded all of these outstanding slots, it would be insufficient to allow us to commence even the most basic level of service to these new destinations. Indeed, slot caps of the sort being advanced by Ports Toronto can only benefit Porter and enhance its existing dominant position."