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Porter Aviation, OIAA investing over $65 million at YOW

Porter Aviation Holdings Inc., parent company of Porter Airlines, and the Ottawa International Airport Authority are investing over $65 million in YOW’s future.

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 E195-E2 and existing De Havilland Dash 8-400. The Ottawa International Airport Authority (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.

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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).

“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.