Porter Airlines said it is considering ordering more Q-400 turboprop planes once Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B) delivers previously ordered aircraft to the regional carrier later this year.
Robert Deluce, president and CEO of the privately owned airline, told a transportation conference in Toronto on Tuesday that Porter is increasing the size of its fleet as it adds destinations.
Porter currently operates eight planes and will add four 70-seat Q-400s in May as it doubles its daily service to Montreal and increases flights to Ottawa, Deluce said.
He said additional planes could be ordered after Porter's fleet increases to 18 planes by the end of the year.
Porter is adding Chicago and Thunder Bay, Ont., to its growing number of destinations this year. It will also add either Boston, Washington or Philadelphia before the end of the year, Deluce said.
Meanwhile, Heroux-Devtek (TSX:HRX) chief executive Gilles Labbe said the landing gear and industrial turbine manufacturer is well-positioned to manoeuvre through the aerospace downcycle.
Its strong financial position and military contracts help to cushion the blow from decreased civil aviation deliveries expected through 2011, Labbe told analysts.
Labbe said Heroux-Devtek has been asked by aircraft manufacturers to bid on contracts, in part, out of concern about the financial viability of suppliers to withstand the financial markets crisis and economic downturn.
