Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. (PAHI), the parent company of Porter Airlines, and the Ottawa International Airport Authority (OIAA) are celebrating the grand opening of Porter's YOW aircraft hangars and maintenance base.
According to Porter, the two aircraft hangars are approximately 150,000 sq. ft. combined, supporting the maintenance of Porter's Embraer E195-E2 fleet and existing De Havilland Dash 8-400s.
The airline has up to 100 E195-E2s on order, 33 of which are currently in service. The Dash 8-400 fleet totals 29 aircraft.
OIAA has constructed a new taxiway and infrastructure to support the hangar development. The airport's growth represents a combined $125 million investment in YOW's future.
"The investments we are making in the new aircraft hangars and local hiring are foundational to Porter's future in Ottawa. Porter's presence at YOW has grown significantly in the past year, with new non-stop routes using both our E195s and Dash 8s, and plans to add an E195-E2 crew base at the airport. Our partnership with Algonquin College is extremely valuable for both organizations, providing us with access to local talent and giving students career opportunities that are close to home. We are meaningfully investing in Canada's Capital Region and see more growth in its future," said Michael Deluce, CEO of PAHI.
YOW will be Porter's primary maintenance base, and 200 local team members will be hired to support its operation.
This includes 160 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs), shop technicians, store clerks, and administrative support.
"Porter Airlines' commitment to YOW is transformational for Canada's Capital Region, and the community will reap the economic and social benefits for decades. Today's hangar opening celebration demonstrates how being an airline's hub airport creates new levels of prosperity and connectivity," said Mark Laroche, president and CEO of OIAA
To support the endeavour, Porter and Algonquin College are establishing a long-term strategic partnership to enhance work-integrated learning opportunities across all business areas and support program development and training. Specific activities will take place at the Ottawa hangars.
Ottawa is Porter's fastest-growing market outside of Toronto, feeding into the airline's Eastern Canada network and growing Western markets.
Porter will offer more daily flights from YOW this summer than any other carrier, with 16 non-stop routes and approximately two million passengers travelling through YOW in 2024.
By the end of this year, Porter expects to employ more than 400 team members in Ottawa, representing customer service, pilots, flight attendants and maintenance.
OIAA invested CAD $15 million in constructing Taxiway Romeo in the airport's north field area—the first airside expansion project in the OIAA's 20-year history. It accommodates Porter's hangar development, future federal government needs, and other commercial aviation-related developments.
Sustainability
The hangars are designed and 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.
