Toronto-based Porter Airlines is looking to hire Northerners as flight crew by establishing a Thunder Bay base this January, creating 40 jobs for pilots and flight attendants in the process.
The air carrier claims it is the first crew base of its kind by any large commercial airline in Northern Ontario. Porter has bases in Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
“Thunder Bay is a significant Northern Ontario centre that is very important to Porter’s network,” said Porter president-CEO Robert Deluce in a Sept. 19 news release.
“The ability to base crew there allows us to hire people who value their northern connections and also want an opportunity to fly larger aircraft to more locations.”
Porter began flight service to Thunder Bay in 2008 and now runs six daily flights between the northwestern Ontario city and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
“This Porter decision brings a large number of jobs to Thunder Bay and confirms the importance of aviation in the regional economy,” said Ed Schmidtke, president-CEO of Thunder Bay International Airports Authority.
According to Porter, each of their flights operates with two pilots and two flight attendants. For job descriptions go online at www.flyporter.com/careers as hiring progresses.
The airline currently offers flights to 20 destinations, including the Northern Ontario cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Timmins.
