Porter Airlines’ push to bring jet service to an expanded Toronto island airport is officially dead.

PortsToronto, the federal port authority, said in a statement it has halted work on an environmental assessment and two studies requested by city council in 2014.

“PortsToronto will complete the technical work currently underway, but will not proceed with further public engagement-related activities pertaining to the Porter Proposal to introduce jets,” said chief executive Geoffrey Wilson in a statement.

“As such, the studies will not be finished. PortsToronto will make data and information gathered to date available to the City of Toronto and stakeholders that may be helpful to the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan currently being led by the City of Toronto.”

Porter launched its controversial expansion proposal in April 2013.

The runway would have been expanded a half-kilometre into the harbour as part of a bigger Billy Bishop airport, which was expected to result in more than doubling its use, to 5.5 million passengers a year.

Last month Transport Minister Marc Garneau said his government would not renegotiate an airport agreement among the City of Toronto, Ports Toronto and the federal government.

The port authority said at the time that, absent any specific direction from the federal government, it was putting finishing touches on the studies for delivery to city council in early 2016.

The ongoing studies were seized on as a source of hope by those fighting to keep alive Porter’s dream of offering Bombardier CSeries jet service to destinations, including Miami and Los Angeles, not reachable by Porter’s Bombardier Q400 turboprops.

Porter said Tuesday it is glad some technical work on the studies continues but has no other comment while the company assesses the situation.

Councillor Joe Cressy, who represents the downtown ward that includes the airport, welcomed news that the studies will not be completed.

Traffic chaos, particularly around the airport at the foot of Bathurst St., saw Cressy’s predecessor, Adam Vaughan, now the area’s Liberal MP, spar for years with the port authority, which is still primarily governed by Conservative appointees.

Cressy said there have been than 50 meetings in the past year about the Bathurst Quay plan to improve “public realm” and park space, and enhance community services, including a new aquatic centre.

PortsToronto is vowing “to work collaboratively with the City of Toronto and waterfront stakeholders to ensure that the airport strikes an appropriate balance along the waterfront while continuing to offer a vital gateway for travellers.”

Vaughan said he's pleased with the decision and that future PortsToronto appointments will be "transparent and based on merit, not political." Waterfront Toronto, representing all three levels of government, will now be the lead on waterfront issues.

AIRPORT PROPOSAL: A TIMELINE

April 2013: Porter Airlines unveils the surprise pitch to replace its turboprop fleet with jets and places a conditional order for Bombardier CSeries jets.

May 2013: Toronto council votes 29-15 for a staff study of issues around the Porter request.

June 2013: An interim city reports pegs runway expansion cost at $80 million.

September 2013: After delays, the CSeries has a successful maiden test flight in Montreal.

March 2014: A Forum poll says 46 per cent of Torontonians favour jets at the island airport, while 40 per cent oppose them.

April 2014: Council votes 44-0 to negotiate with the port authority over airport expansion, but includes a long list of conditions with no indication of support. Port authority agrees to do required studies.

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September 2015: Eight Liberal MPs write Toronto council about the east Gardiner Expressway but also commit to no jets at the island airport.

October 2015: After the Liberals win federally, MP Adam Vaughan tells the Star the airport expansion plan is dead. Jet proponents say that’s not official.

November 2015: Transport Minister Marc Garneau confirms the government will not reopen the island airport agreement.

December 2015: The port authority says it has halted work on the council-requested studies. Porter notes some technical work on the studies will continue.