Closely-held Porter Aviation said in a release that a deal would let it focus on its core airline business. Last year Porter Airlines unveiled a plan to more than double its fleet, with a conditional order worth up to $2.08 billion for Bombardier Inc's (>> Bombardier, Inc.) new CSeries jets.

Porter said a deal would not change its operations, and it would still be based at the regional airport, on an island just off Toronto's downtown core. The airport is owned and operated by the Toronto Port Authority.

The Wall Street Journal said the sale could bring in more than $500 million, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Allison Martell; Editing by Tom Brown)

Stocks treated in this article : Air Canada, Bombardier, Inc., WestJet Airlines Ltd.