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.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.flyporter.com