Issued by Porter Airlines
Porter building two hangars for new aircraft maintenance base
200 full-time, permanent local jobs being created
Porter Aviation Holdings Inc., parent company of Porter Airlines, and the Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA) are investing over $65 million dollars in YOW’s future.
Porter is in the process of building two aircraft hangars, over approximately 150,000 sq. ft., to maintain its growing fleet, featuring the new Embraer E195-E2 and existing De Havilland Dash 8-400. OIAA is constructing a new taxiway and related infrastructure to support the hangar development, as well as future opportunities in this section of the airport.
The hangars are being built in two phases: phase one is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023, and phase two in the first quarter of 2024. YOW will be a primary maintenance base for the E195-E2, with Porter hiring 200 local team members, including 160 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs). Other positions include shop technicians, stores clerks and administrative support. These represent highly-skilled roles that will be based in the city. Additionally, 150 construction jobs will be supported during the building process.
“Ottawa has been a critical location for Porter throughout our history and the multi-million dollar facilities we’re building to maintain aircraft here is only the latest example of our desire to meaningfully invest in Canada’s Capital Region,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines. “We anticipate our presence in Ottawa will grow in the coming years, supported by the maintenance base and future aircraft deliveries that give us the ability to consider new routes.”
The airline has up to 100 E195-E2s on order, including 50 firm commitments and 50 purchase rights. The current Dash 8-400 fleet includes 29 aircraft.
OIAA is currently constructing Taxiway Romeo in the airport’s north field area. The $15 million taxiway represents the first airside expansion project in the AAIO’s 20-year history. It will accommodate Porter’s hangar development plans, as well as federal government needs, and possibly other commercial aviation-related development.
”YOW was Porter’s first destination when they launched in 2006. We believe it’s very fitting that YOW is an important part of their expansion plans and their future, and look forward to the benefits that come with such an extensive maintenance operation,” said Mark Laroche, OIAA President and CEO. “We are particularly pleased that sustainability factors so prominently in Porter’s plans, which fits perfectly with YOW’s ambitious commitment to net-zero operations (Scope 1 and 2 GHGs) by 2040 or sooner.”
In addition to daily line maintenance performing scheduled tasks on the E195-E2 and Dash 8-400, the Ottawa facility will have the following capabilities:
- Indoor parking for up to eight aircraft
- Structures shop for repairs and modifications of metal and composite aircraft parts
- Component repair shop to repair and overhaul cabin equipment
- Wheel shop to repair and overhaul main and nose wheels
- Battery shop to repair and overhaul aircraft main and emergency batteries
Sustainability
The hangars are designed and will be built with sustainability in mind, including the following features:
- A predominantly electric fleet of vehicles that will be used for towing and servicing aircraft, as well as ground support.
- Design criteria that exceeds current energy efficiency standards, including for insulation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and electrical power systems.
- The hangars are clad in Insulated Metal Panels (IMPs).
- Superior to the standard metal siding usually found on aircraft hangars.
- The anticipated lifespan is greater than 60 years.
- Constructed with approximately 35% recycled steel and, at end of life, can in turn be recycled.
- Constructed from materials that have a low embodied carbon footprint - 28% lower than conventional tilt-up assemblies.
- The structure spans 85.6 m (280 ft.). This substantial clear span has been achieved using prefabricated trusses. The steel tonnage to span ratio is approximately 30% less than conventional rolled steel section beams.
- Fire protection involves dual systems. In addition to a conventional sprinkler system, the aircraft parking and maintenance areas are equipped with an instantaneous foam deluge system. In the event of a fire, the multi-layers of fire suppression do not rely on a conventional single source of water supply. The city hydrant system is fully supplemented by an onsite underground water storage tank containing approximately 1.2 million litres of water.
- Stormwater management has become an important factor in both commercial and industrial developments. Instead of rain/stormwater flowing directly to and overstressing existing city mains, two 173,000-litre underground tanks are being installed at the Porter hangars to capture excess.
Porter’s imminent introduction of the E195-E2 to its fleet provides the ability to operate throughout North America, including to the west coast, southern U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. The aircraft will initially be deployed from Toronto Pearson International Airport, with Ottawa, Halifax and Montreal seeing new service with the E195-E2 over time. The first of up to 100 new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to Porter by the end of 2022, and initial routes will be announced leading up to the first aircraft deliveries.
The hangars are designed by Scott Associates Architects, with PCL Construction acting as Construction Manager, together with Span Construction & Engineering.
About the Ottawa International Airport Authority
OIAA manages, operates and develops airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of Canada’s Capital Region, generating more than $2.2 billion annually in total economic activity in Ottawa and Gatineau.
About Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines provides 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®. Visit www.flyporter.com or follow @porterairlines on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Details of Porter's North America-wide service plans are available online.
David McGuinty, Jim Watson, Mark Laroche, Michael Deluce, Bob Deluce
Remarks
Mark Laroche, President and CEO, Ottawa International Airport Authority
Check against delivery.
Good afternoon, Bon après-midi,
It’s my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Y-O-W. It’s wonderful to have Members of the Authority’s Board of Directors, the Honourable David McGuinty, MP for Ottawa South, Deputy Mayor Dudas, newly elected and re-elected members of City Council with us. We are also joined by members of the business community, Porter Airlines friends and Airport Authority colleagues and several media outlets. Welcome all.
I started teasing this news at our Annual Public Meeting last May, then at the Board of Trade’s City Building Summit last June, and at the All Candidates Meeting last month. As they say, good things come to those who wait.
If you recently travelled to the airport via Hunt Club Road and Paul Benoit Private, you might have wondered about the heavy equipment and mounds of dirt on the airfield. They represent the first airside expansion project since the Airport Authority was established in February 1997.
Last spring, we broke ground on Taxiway Romeo, the official name for Y-O-W’s new 15 million dollar taxiway. We are nearing completion – the lines are freshly painted – and ready to accommodate the growing demands of our National Capital airport. These demands include the unique needs of the Government of Canada. In fact, we have 25,000 square metres earmarked for their near-immediate requirements. There are hectares more available for development.
When we initiated the Romeo project, we knew that it would unlock development potential in the north field. We were pleased to see the speed at which the private sector seized the opportunity and confirm a tangible project. And here we are today, ready to share the details we’ve been unable to discuss publicly, until today.
I’m delighted to have Michael Deluce, President and CEO of Porter Airlines here to discuss what, in my opinion, is a game-changer for our airport and the Region. Back in 2006, when Porter Airlines launched, they chose Ottawa as the inaugural destination. That was an important statement. It was a seal of approval on the importance of serving Canada’s Capital Region. Then in 2017, Porter was a lead sponsor of the City’s 150-year anniversary celebrations. Now in 2022, it seems very fitting that Porter has chosen Ottawa to play a pivotal role in maintaining their expanded fleet.
Y-O-W is an economic engine that drives prosperity for Ottawa-Gatineau. New aviation-related development, much like new air service, augments the degree to which we positively impact the local economy and the quality of life in the Region. From quality, high-paying aerospace jobs to local spending, our success truly is the community’s success.
This project is just the beginning. We are building back our passenger volumes and with projects like today’s announcement, we are laser focused on going beyond what Y-O-W was offering pre-pandemic.
Currently, our flight schedule isn’t where we would like it to be yet, but we are working hard to get our air service back for our community and Porter remains a key partner in helping us succeed. We are actively marketing the remaining land in the north field. The Y-O-W+ concession transformation is well underway. Our LRT station is complete and ready to connect to the City’s Stage 2 airport spur. And we are working closely with other key partners to offer new services. There is no doubt that the pandemic set us back, but we are bullish about the future, led by Porter’s massive hangar commitment to Y-O-W.
I will leave the finer details to Michael to share but want to extend my sincere thanks to the Porter team for putting their trust in our community. This investment in Y-O-W is the largest by an airline in decades. It demonstrates Porter’s commitment to ensuring that travellers in the Nation’s Capital continue to fly refined. It is now time for the community, partners and the City to reciprocate in any way they can. We all look forward to the first arrivals at the hangars and to the possibilities that lie ahead. Good luck to Michael and the Porter team in their ambitious expansion project.