Porter Airlines is gearing up for a fast-paced year with the partial opening of a $50-million passenger terminal in downtown Toronto.
The City Centre Terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport opens to passengers March 7. Porter expects to handle more than 1.3 million passengers through the former island airport in 2010.
The regional airline, which introduced service to Thunder Bay last June, starts flying into Sudbury March 31.
The new 150,000-square-foot Toronto terminal includes lounge facilities, a check-in hall and office space.
Later this fall, the entire facility will be opened with 10 bridged aircraft gates and two passenger lounges. The airline is seeking retail, food service, duty-free and other tenants for the facility.
The new lounges will triple current capacity and include a business centre, modern lounge-style seating, beverages, snacks and Wi-Fi.
In a Feb. 22 press release, Porter chairman Don Carty said the company has witnessed "tremendous growth" since the October 2006 start-up, expanding from two aircraft to a fleet of 18. "This building adds to the convenience and service-oriented aspects of travel from Porter's Toronto City Airport hub."
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