City council has voted 29-15 to authorize a staff study of issues around a Porter Airlines request to extend the island airport runway to accommodate jets.

Porter Airlines chief executive Robert Deluce welcomed the Tuesday evening vote and said his company will pay for at least part of the study into aircraft noise, traffic, environmental and other issues.

The work is expected to be done by consultants, with some results to be reported to the July 3 executive committee. City council is expected to return to the issue in November.

The initial studies are estimated at $275,000 and follow-up work is expected to cost $800,000 to $1 million and the city wants the Toronto Port Authority to pick up those costs.

Mayor Rob Ford also welcomed opening the door to expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. He said Torontonians will have a chance to weigh in at the executive committee in July.

“It’s good, it’s a good beginning,” Ford said after the nearly five-hour debate. “It’s going to create jobs, it’s great for tourism.”

Deluce, who was present for the debate, said he was gratified by the strong council support for his plan, announced April 10, that would see Porter fly Bombardier CS100 jets.

“We look forward to moving to the next step and being able to provide some of those new destinations eventually at affordable prices,” Deluce said. “But the study first and hopefully an approval in due course.”

While Deluce was criticized for conditionally contracting with Bombardier for the jets before approaching council, he said he needed to know the company could deliver before going further.

Deluce said he’s convinced the new jet is “comparably quiet” to the Bombardier Q400 turboprops that Porter now flies.

“This CS100 is revolutionary,” he said. “It’s not about jets versus turboprops, it is about noise, and this aircraft is the quietest commercial jet in production.”

Anshul Kapoor, of No Jets TO, was glad council voted to preclude any extension of the north-south runway which could encroach on parkland; and ensure no changes to the east-west runway and safety zone that would impinge on boat traffic moving through the western channel.

Kapoor added that existing noise guidelines are to remain intact as studies move forward. “Councillors left the door open to an open conversation and we’re OK with that,” he said.

Councillor Adam Vaughan, whose downtown ward includes the airport, said he won some significant concessions.

“We have sustained the noise envelope for the airport, to protect residents along the waterfront,” he said. “We have protected the parks, the bird sanctuary and ensured the north-south runway cannot extend itself by one inch. And we’ve protected boating and general aviation.”

Vaughan made it clear he still opposes jets, even the CS100 that is still in development. A prototype is expected to be available for noise studies next month.

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“Keep in mind, this jet has never flown and this proposal is still not off the tarmac,” Vaughan said.