OTTAWA — Ottawa International Airport (YOW) is getting a major, multi-million-dollar facelift, thanks in large part to Porter Airlines’ parent company.
Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. and the Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA) are investing over $65 million dollars in YOW’s future.
As part of the investment, Porter is in the process of building two aircraft hangars, over approximately 150,000 square feet, to maintain its growing fleet featuring the new Embraer E 195-E2 and existing De Havilland Dash 8-400. Meanwhile, 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.
“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 hangars are being built in two phases: phase one is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023, while phase two will be done in the first quarter of 2024. They are designed with sustainability in mind, featuring Insulated Metal Panels (IMPs) and a design criteria that exceeds current energy efficiency standards including insulation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and electrical power systems.
Porter 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. The 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, 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 deliveries.
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 OIAA’s 20-year history, and will accommodate Porter’s hangar development plans, federal government needs and possibly other commercial aviation-related development.
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
