There's no stopping these guys. Porter Airlines, after struggling for years against anti-noise neighbors and 'entrenched competitors,' is growing and now says that it may well order more Bombardier Q400 turboprops. Its founder and chief executive, Robert Deluce, says that "probably I shouldn't say this because there are Bombardier people here today, but we may be placing an order for more. Some discussions will have to take place first."Deluce tells the Raymond James Growth Airline conference that the privately held carrier has two options remaining in its original order for 10 firm and 10 options, "and they will soon be spoken for." He praised the turboprop's operating efficiencies, saying that its 30%-40% fuel advantage over jets enabled Porter "to avoid costly fuel hedges." Deluce just told Airline Business that the carrier plans growth in both domestic and transborder routes this year.
Industry estimates 
place the price of a new Q400 at about $30 million in current US dollars, although Deluce notes that Porter's original order was at lower prices "before the pricing got sharper."
He says the carrier had "no difficulty" in financing those orders. We're not sure why Deluce was at the RJ conference, because it is for investors interested in growth airlines, carriers with niches and the like. He did not address any possibility of taking public the venture capital-funded carrier, based at Toronto's City Centre Airport.
place the price of a new Q400 at about $30 million in current US dollars, although Deluce notes that Porter's original order was at lower prices "before the pricing got sharper."
He says the carrier had "no difficulty" in financing those orders. We're not sure why Deluce was at the RJ conference, because it is for investors interested in growth airlines, carriers with niches and the like. He did not address any possibility of taking public the venture capital-funded carrier, based at Toronto's City Centre Airport.
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