Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Porter Airlines Inc. of Toronto announced today that they have signed a firm purchase agreement for three Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliners.

Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $US 93 million.

The three aircraft on firm order will increase Porter’s Q400aircraft fleet to 29 aircraft. Porter exclusively flies Q400 airliners. The first two deliveries are scheduled for December 2016.

“The Toronto-built Bombardier Q400 aircraft is everything you could ask for in a turboprop,” said Robert Deluce, President and Chief Executive Officer of Porter Airlines. “It is an important component of our award-winning customer experience. The combination of operating efficiency, speed, very low noise levels inside and out, and excellent passenger appeal are unbeatable.”

Porter’s home base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is known as one of the world’s best urban airports. It is located within three kilometers of the central business and entertainment districts. Approximately 2.5 million passengers used the airport in 2015.

“Porter Airlines and the Q400 aircraft are providing access to a very convenient airport close to downtown Toronto, akin to that of London City Airport in the U.K., and the growth in passenger traffic reflects that,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The aircraft’s low noise levels on take-off and approach make it a good-neighbor aircraft for the downtown, while its operating economics make it a very valuable asset for an airline.”

Bombardier press release