Robert Deluce
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Deluce is a Canadian
airline executive. He is currently the president and CEO of regional airline Porter Airlines
and a past airline executive with Air Ontario
and other airlines.
, Air Manitoba, Air Alliance and Canada 3000
Airlines. His father Stan Deluce was a flyer for the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War and in 1951, he formed White River Air Service to fly summer tourists to Lake Superior. Robert was a pilot with White River and maintains a commercial pilot's license. The family bought Austin Airways in 1971, then Air Ontario and Superior Airways in 1981. The Deluce family sold 75% of Air Ontario and Austin Airways to Air Canada in 1986.
In 1988, the Deluce family started Canada 3000, initially as a subsidiary of British airline Air 2000. After British control of Air 2000 was rejected by the Canadian government, the Deluce family bought Air 2000's interest in the new airline, (selling their remaining 25% of Air Ontario) and named it Canada 3000. Deluce became president and CEO of Canada 3000, a position he held until 1995. His brother Peter was also an executive with Canada 3000.
In 2001, Deluce with partners formed REGCO Holdings to set up a competing regional airline at Toronto's Island Airport. The airport, which was losing money for its operator, the Toronto Port Authority
(TPA) was seeking to expand its usage and increase revenues. Deluce proposed setting up a new airline using Bombardier turboprop aircraft to several cities within range of Toronto. The TPA, along with the City of Toronto was then planning to build a new bridge to the island airport to facilitate the expansion. The bridge was cancelled by the City of Toronto and Deluce then sued the City and the Canadian federal government, eventually settling out of court. Despite this, Deluce and the TPA continued to pursue the regional airline expansion plan. Regco purchased the terminal building at the airport being used by Air Canada Jazz
and evicted them, freeing the space for his own airline. Porter Airlines launched in October 2006 with flights to Ottawa
, Ontario
and has expanded since. Porter currently flies to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, Halifax, St. John’s, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, New York (Newark), Chicago (Midway), Boston (Logan), and has seasonal flights to Mt. Tremblant, Que. and Myrtle Beach, SC.
He is also the president and CEO of Deluce Capital Corp of Toronto. He is a past director of the Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre of University Health Network and Vector Aerospace Corporation.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
airline executive. He is currently the president and CEO of regional airline Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines
Porter Airlines is a regional airline headquartered at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the Toronto Islands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Porter operates regularly scheduled flights between Toronto and locations in Canada and the United States using Canadian-built Bombardier Dash-8 Q 400...
and a past airline executive with Air Ontario
Air Ontario
Air Ontario Inc. was a Canadian airline now part of Air Canada Jazz. It was headquartered in London, Ontario.- History :Air Ontario Inc. was established in June 1987, with the merger of Austin Airways, Canada’s oldest airline, which began service in 1934, and Air Ontario Ltd...
and other airlines.
Career
The Deluce family has over 50 years of experience in the airline business with White River Air Services, norOntair, Austin Airways, Air Creebec, Air OntarioAir Ontario
Air Ontario Inc. was a Canadian airline now part of Air Canada Jazz. It was headquartered in London, Ontario.- History :Air Ontario Inc. was established in June 1987, with the merger of Austin Airways, Canada’s oldest airline, which began service in 1934, and Air Ontario Ltd...
, Air Manitoba, Air Alliance and Canada 3000
Canada 3000
Canada 3000 Inc. was a Canadian discount charter airline offering domestic and international flights. It was the largest charter airline in the world at the time of its operation, with over 90 destinations worldwide, although it changed to scheduled service in 2000 after the Canadian Airlines and...
Airlines. His father Stan Deluce was a flyer for the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War and in 1951, he formed White River Air Service to fly summer tourists to Lake Superior. Robert was a pilot with White River and maintains a commercial pilot's license. The family bought Austin Airways in 1971, then Air Ontario and Superior Airways in 1981. The Deluce family sold 75% of Air Ontario and Austin Airways to Air Canada in 1986.
In 1988, the Deluce family started Canada 3000, initially as a subsidiary of British airline Air 2000. After British control of Air 2000 was rejected by the Canadian government, the Deluce family bought Air 2000's interest in the new airline, (selling their remaining 25% of Air Ontario) and named it Canada 3000. Deluce became president and CEO of Canada 3000, a position he held until 1995. His brother Peter was also an executive with Canada 3000.
In 2001, Deluce with partners formed REGCO Holdings to set up a competing regional airline at Toronto's Island Airport. The airport, which was losing money for its operator, the Toronto Port Authority
Toronto Port Authority
The Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
(TPA) was seeking to expand its usage and increase revenues. Deluce proposed setting up a new airline using Bombardier turboprop aircraft to several cities within range of Toronto. The TPA, along with the City of Toronto was then planning to build a new bridge to the island airport to facilitate the expansion. The bridge was cancelled by the City of Toronto and Deluce then sued the City and the Canadian federal government, eventually settling out of court. Despite this, Deluce and the TPA continued to pursue the regional airline expansion plan. Regco purchased the terminal building at the airport being used by Air Canada Jazz
Air Canada Jazz
Jazz Aviation LP is a Canadian regional airline based at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield and Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chorus Aviation....
and evicted them, freeing the space for his own airline. Porter Airlines launched in October 2006 with flights to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and has expanded since. Porter currently flies to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, Halifax, St. John’s, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, New York (Newark), Chicago (Midway), Boston (Logan), and has seasonal flights to Mt. Tremblant, Que. and Myrtle Beach, SC.
He is also the president and CEO of Deluce Capital Corp of Toronto. He is a past director of the Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre of University Health Network and Vector Aerospace Corporation.