/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
City News

WestJet makes a passive-agressive non-bid bid for access to the island airport

By Steve Kupferman
Copy link
The island airport, from above. (Image: sean hill )
The island airport, from above. (Image: sean hill)

The island airport makes some people very, very angry, but for WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky, the feeling is probably more like mild despair, perhaps mixed with envy and a soupçon of frustration with Porter and Air Canada—the airlines that currently have exclusive dibs on the tiny but oh-so-convenient transportation hub.

WestJet has been angling for slots at the island airport for quite some time, but, with Porter’s jet proposal about to come to a vote at city hall, even the merest whisper about Saretsky’s situation is enough for the media to pile on, as they did yesterday when he told the Globe: “We would like to have the opportunity to fly jets ourselves from that airport.”

The Toronto Port Authority, the airport’s owner and operator, is finding WestJet’s approach kind of puzzling. While Saretsky apparently has no issue with talking to the media, he hasn’t actually, you know, floated the idea with the people who actually have the power to begin granting his request.

“We are delighted WestJet is interested in offering service from the popular Billy Bishop Airport,” says a statement posted to the TPA’s website earlier today, “but [we] find their approach through the media curious.” The statement adds that no new commercial slots are available at the airport. But we guess it never hurts to ask.

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for This City, our free newsletter about everything that matters right now in Toronto politics, sports, business, culture, society and more.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber
Deep Dives

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the Latest Issue

The May issue of Toronto Life features the artists, professors, scientists and other luminaries moving north to avoid the carnage of Trump. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.