TORONTO – Porter Airlines is adding Victoria to its network, with flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Victoria International Airport (YYJ). Victoria is the second city in British Columbia that Porter serves with the new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. The E195-E2 has the lowest fuel consumption per seat and per trip among its class, and is the quietest single-aisle jet flying today. The two-by-two configuration means no middle seats on any Porter flight.
Service begins on September 20, 2023, with one daily roundtrip flight. Connecting flights with Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St. John’s will also be available. Introductory roundtrip fares start at $476.
Route
Departure
Arrival
Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) to Victoria (YYJ)
10:55 a.m.
1:04 p.m.
Victoria (YYJ) to Toronto-Pearson (YYZ)
2:00 p.m.
9:31 p.m.
Porter’s distinct service includes complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, free premium snacks, and free, fast WiFi, with full access to web surfing or favourite streaming platforms, available to all travellers. Fresh, healthy meals, pre-mixed cocktails and additional snack options are also available on the new route.
Sustainability is at the heart of the menu design, with a priority on reducing and eventually eliminating single-use plastics onboard, providing biodegradable cups and cutlery, and eco-friendly packaging.
Porter continues to expand its presence in Western Canada, now serving Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg.
Flights and Porter Escapes vacation packages are now available for booking at www.flyporter.com and with travel agents.
Melbourne, Florida, February 24, 2021 – For the ninth consecutive year, the Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) Phenom 300 series has become the world’s best-selling light jet according to numbers released today by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Embraer delivered 50 Phenom 300 series light jets in 2020, making it the most delivered light jet of the year. This is the ninth consecutive year that the Phenom 300 series has achieved this milestone, having accrued more than 590 deliveries since entering the market in December 2009. In 2020, the Phenom 300 series was also the most delivered jet model out of all twinjets in the market.
Originally launched in 2005, the Phenom 300 series is in operation in more than 30 countries and has accumulated more than one million flight hours. Embraer is continuously investing in the competitiveness of the Phenom 300E with enhancements to its comfort, technology, performance, and operational efficiency resulting in the highest residual value in the market.
In January of 2020, Embraer announced the new and enhanced Phenom 300E, followed by its ANAC, EASA and FAA approval in March, achieving triple-certification. The first delivery of the new and enhanced Phenom 300E occurred in June of 2020.
With its unparalleled technology, exceptional comfort, and stunning performance, the Phenom 300E sets the highest standard of excellence in the light jet category. In terms of performance, the new, enhanced Phenom 300E is even faster, capable of reaching Mach 0.80, becoming the fastest single-pilot jet in production, and able to deliver high-speed cruise of 464 knots, and a five-occupant range of 2,010 nautical miles (3,724 km) with NBAA IFR reserves.
Additional technology enhancements include an avionics upgrade, featuring a runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS) ― the first technology of its kind to be developed and certified in business aviation ― as well as predictive windshear, Emergency Descent Mode, PERF, TOLD, and FAA Datacom, among others. The Phenom 300E also features 4G connectivity via Gogo AVANCE L5.
The new, comfort-enhancing features on this jet include a quieter cabin, more legroom in the cockpit, and a new premium interior option — the Bossa Nova edition. Named for the Brazilian style of jazz music, and Portuguese for “new trend,” the optional Bossa Nova edition encompasses a package of Embraer’s latest interior developments, with features such as carbon fiber accents and Embraer’s exclusive Ipanema sew style. It is also the first of the Phenom 300 series to feature piano black surfaces.
Air Saint-Pierre has taken delivery of its new ATR 42-600 aircraft, following the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2018. Based on one of the three main islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (around 6,300 inhabitants), Air Saint-Pierre is essential to the archipelago’s economy, as it flies both passengers and goods to Miquelon, St. John’s, the Magdalen Islands, Halifax and Montreal. The new aircraft will replace the airline’s existing ATR 42-500 which has been in operation since 2009.
In addition to benefitting from unbeatable environmental performance and economics, the ATR 600’s proven ability to operate effectively in windy conditions is vital for Air Saint-Pierre. The -600 series can take-off and land in cross wind conditions of 45 knots, a unique capability which enables the airline to offer reliable air services to its communities. Air Saint-Pierre’s passengers will also enjoy the modernity and comfort of the Armonia cabin, whilst the airline’s pilots will appreciate the state-of the-art avionics suite, resulting in a smoother flying experience for all.
Benoît Olano, Chief Executive Officer of Air Saint-Pierre, said: “We are looking forward to starting operations with our new ATR aircraft. We have been flying ATR since 1994, starting with an ATR 42 320, and the turboprop’s unique capabilities and continuous improvement have made it the ideal aircraft for our operations over the years. We will continue to provide to the people of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon the connectivity they need, along with greater comfort, whilst limiting our impact on the environment.”
ATR Chief Executive Officer, Stefano Bortoli added: “There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a loyal customer upgrade its fleet. Delivering regional connectivity in the challenging operational conditions of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and its neighbouring islands takes a special aircraft and the ATR 42-600 is the perfect fit. The airline’s operations are vital for the archipelago’s communities and we are truly glad to see our aircraft once again accomplish what they have been designed for: to connect people and places responsibly, no matter how remote.”
Global defence company Nova Group is maintaining its projections of over $200 million revenue this financial year with longer-term goals to continue expanding its global reach. A newer focus on space is continuing to diversify the portfolio of the South Australian headquartered company that has invested more than $20 million on eight acquisitions across the globe to cement its footprint.
In South Australia, the company’s new Nova IGS Network is providing space ground connectivity for small satellite operators with the site now being used by international clients including Tyvak USA and RBC USA. Nova is also in talks with an Italian-based space company wanting to expand its presence in Australia.
Based on a 21 hectare site in Peterborough in South Australia’s mid north, the site is used to track low earth orbit satellites through customer’s own terminals and Nova has plans to attract further European companies over upcoming years. “Nova is also planning to utilise the site as a ground station test bed for emerging Space 2.0 technologies and support future defence projects,” a spokesman said. “Peterborough provides the vital ground segment element in order to allow satellite operators to downlink/download their data.”
Nova Group is marking 20 years in business, with Nova Systems founded by Jim Whalley and Peter Nikoloff and originally offering flight-testing services in South Australia’s capital city of Adelaide. It has since grown to having 600 employees working on projects around the world including with the Australian Defence Force, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. “With a solid foundation in the defence markets in Australia and the UK, and a footprint in space, transport and energy, I am very proud to be exporting Australian capability and know-how to the world and look forward to positioning to our next growth phase,” Whalley said. Nova was recently awarded one of four industry leads in the Major Service Provider consortium providing integrated support contracts to the Australia Defence Force over the next 10 years.
MONTREAL/WINNIPEG (Reuters) – Canada’s longest railroad strike in a decade ended on Tuesday as Canadian National Railway Co reached a tentative agreement with workers, but shippers warned it could take weeks before service bounces back to normal.
Industry groups celebrated the end of the eight-day strike at the country’s biggest railroad, which had cost them sales and raised their expenses. News of the deal, which must still be ratified by union members, sent CN shares up by as much as 2%.
Thousands of unionized workers began heading back to their jobs, CN said, with operations expected to be in full swing on Wednesday. Union members should vote on the deal within eight weeks.
CN has rescinded 70 temporary layoff notices at an auto shipment terminal in Nova Scotia following the deal, another union said.
Canada relies on CN and Canadian Pacific Railway to move crops, oil, potash, coal and manufactured goods to ports and the United States.
Details of the agreement were not available but some 3,200 striking conductors and yard workers had been demanding improved working conditions, including rest breaks.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged CN and union officials in a tweet on Tuesday and thanked workers, industry and all Canadians for their patience.
Trudeau’s minority government had faced pressure from industry and farmers to end the strike and force workers back to their jobs.
Transport Minister Marc Garneau told reporters on Tuesday that if Ottawa had intervened with legislation, “we would not have had a solution today.”
Teamsters Canada President Francois Laporte noted the federal government “remained calm and focused.” CEO of Montreal-based CN J.J. Ruest thanked customers for their patience.
About half of Canada’s exports move by rail, according to industry data, and the strike would likely cost the Canadian economy less than C$1 billion ($750 million) and cut fourth-quarter growth by about 0.1 percentage point, Brian DePratto, a senior economist at TD, said.
PROPANE SHORTAGE TO PERSIST
The Canadian Propane Association warned severe shortages of the fuel in several eastern Canadian provinces could last weeks. “We need to get the inventory back up,” said association President Nathalie St-Pierre, noting the “crisis” was not over.
Garneau said CN will work quickly to clear the backlog, but added the process is complex and would take time.
Bob Masterson, chief executive of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, said some plants had slowed production during the strike.
Based on past rail disruptions, he said CN is likely to move critical commodities first, like propane for farms and homes and chlorine for drinking water, leaving other shippers to face delays.
PAIN FOR MINERS, FARMERS
Brendan Marshall, a vice president with the Mining Association of Canada, said miners faced hefty costs due to lost sales and plant disruptions. He said restoring normal operations could take a week for every day of disrupted service.
“Now we can hope that things can get back to normal in quick fashion. It’s cost a lot of money to farmers already,” said Markus Haerle, chairman of the Grain Farmers of Ontario. Wet conditions have stalled the harvest across much of Canada, including much of Haerle’s corn crop near St. Isidore, Ontario. Those crops must be dried before they can be sold, but the rail strike held up deliveries of propane, forcing farmers to use costlier alternatives.
(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg. Additional reporting by Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa, writing by Steve Scherer, editing by Louise Heavens, Steve Orlofsky and David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: Railcars stand idle at the CN railyards in Edmonton
