More airlines at Toronto island airport considered

The Toronto Port Authority says it is considering proposals to have more airlines fly in and out of the city's island airport.

"The TPA is in the process of reviewing the potential for additional scheduled commercial airline carriers and additional commercial flight services at the [island airport]," the port authority said in a Friday release.

The TPA said it has "received inquiries from interested parties" about adding flight services.

The agency, which owns the airport, said itwould ensure any proposalswouldconform to provincial standards that limit the number of daily flights.

Currently, Porter Airlines is the airport'ssole commercial airline tenant. Porter began flying between Toronto and Ottawa in the fall of 2006 and has since expanded its roster of flight paths to Thunder Bay, Ont., Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Que., Quebec City, Halifax, Boston, New York and Chicago.

The airline has already begun an expansion of the airport that would outfit it with a second passenger lounge, 10 bridged aircraft gates, and Canadian and U.S. customs checkpoints by spring 2010.

Island community groupshave beencritical of any proposed expansion at the airport, saying it would increase air traffic in the area and contribute to noise and pollution.

"This initiative is not an 'expansion' of the [airport], but rather a way of potentially maximizing an asset for the people of Toronto,"said Mark McQueen, chairman of the TPA board of directors, in a statement.

"The[airport] is an attractive gateway to Toronto and our process will determine if the TPA can capitalize on these expressions of interest over the coming months."

The port authority's statement comes 10 days after itannounced a proposed underwater tunnel linking the mainland to the airport wouldn't be built because itwould notbe completed fast enough to qualify for federal stimulus infrastructure funds.