
Toronto Pearson International Airport, branded as Toronto Pearson, is the largest airport in Canada. It covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres or 7.2 square miles) and is located 22.5 kilometres northwest of Downtown Toronto, with the majority of the airport situated in Mississauga. Toronto Pearson has five runways, two passenger terminals, and numerous cargo and maintenance facilities. It serves as a hub for major Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet and offers non-stop flights to more than 155 cities around the world.
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Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport, also known as Lester B. Pearson International Airport, is Canada's largest and busiest airport. Located 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi) northwest of Downtown Toronto, the airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
Toronto Pearson is the primary international airport serving Toronto, its metropolitan area, and the surrounding region known as the Golden Horseshoe. It is the largest airport in the world with facilities for United States border preclearance. The airport covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) and features five runways and two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, along with numerous cargo, maintenance, and aerospace production facilities.
Terminal 1, which opened in 2004, is a 346,000-square-metre (3,724,000 sq ft) facility with 58 gates. It was designed by a joint venture known as Airports Architects Canada, which included Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, Adamson Associates Architects, and Moshe Safdie and Associates. The former Terminal 2 was closed and demolished in 2008 to make way for the expansion of Terminal 1.
Toronto Pearson is the primary hub for Air Canada and serves as a hub for other airlines such as WestJet, FedEx Express, Air Transat, and Sunwing Airlines. The airport offers non-stop flights to more than 155 cities worldwide and handled 44.8 million passengers in 2023, making it the second-busiest international air passenger gateway in the Americas.
In addition to its aviation facilities, Toronto Pearson boasts the largest Central De-icing Facility in the world, servicing over 10,500 aircraft each winter. The airport also plays a significant role in the region's economy, facilitating 6.3% or $42 billion of Ontario's GDP and providing employment for thousands of people.
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The airport covers 1,867 hectares or 4,613 acres
The Toronto Pearson International Airport, also known as Lester B. Pearson International Airport, covers 1,867 hectares or 4,613 acres. It is located 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi) northwest of Downtown Toronto, with the majority of the airport situated in the city of Mississauga and a small portion extending into Toronto's western district of Etobicoke. The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Toronto Pearson Airport is Canada's largest airport in terms of total passenger traffic and the second-largest in North America in terms of international traffic. It is the primary international airport serving Toronto and its surrounding region, known as the Golden Horseshoe. The airport features five runways and two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, with a total passenger capacity of around 47 million per year.
The airport serves as a hub for major Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet and offers non-stop flights to numerous destinations worldwide. In addition to passenger flights, Toronto Pearson also handles a significant amount of cargo operations, with 416,966 metric tons of cargo moved through the airport in 2021. The airport is an important economic driver, facilitating 6.3% or $42 billion of Ontario's GDP and providing employment opportunities for thousands of people.
The vast size of the Toronto Pearson International Airport, covering nearly 4,600 acres, allows for the efficient handling of the high volume of passenger and cargo traffic passing through the airport each year. The airport's five runways, numerous taxiways, and extensive warehouse space contribute to its capacity to manage the large number of flights and facilitate the movement of goods and people across the country and around the globe.
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It has five runways and two terminals
Toronto Pearson International Airport, also known as Lester B. Pearson International Airport, is Canada's largest and busiest airport. Located 22.5 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of Downtown Toronto, it covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) and features five runways and two terminals.
The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Toronto Pearson is Canada's largest airport in terms of total passenger traffic and North America's second-largest in terms of international traffic. It serves as a hub for major Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, connecting Canada to numerous destinations worldwide.
The two terminals at Toronto Pearson are Terminal 1, which opened in 2004, and Terminal 3, which opened in 1991. Terminal 1 was designed specifically to serve Star Alliance airlines, while Terminal 3 caters to a variety of other airlines. The total passenger capacity is around 47 million per year, although this number has been exceeded multiple times, leading to capacity issues.
The airport's five runways are constructed of concrete, asphalt, or a combination of both. In addition to the runways, there are 30 taxiways and numerous cargo and maintenance facilities. Toronto Pearson handles a significant amount of cargo, with around 416,966 metric tons moved in 2021.
The design of Terminal 1 incorporates natural light and views to guide travellers. Linear skylights between ticketing islands help orient departing passengers, and glass-floored bridges lead to the gates. The curving departure hall is supported by concrete buttresses that give way to a wing-like roof.
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It is located 22.5km from downtown Toronto
Toronto Pearson International Airport is located 22.5 kilometres (14 miles) from downtown Toronto. It is the primary international airport serving Toronto, its metropolitan area, and the surrounding region known as the Golden Horseshoe. As Canada's largest airport, it is also the second-busiest international air passenger gateway in the Americas. The airport covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) and features five runways, two passenger terminals, and numerous cargo and maintenance facilities.
The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. It is a vital transportation hub, with non-stop flights to over 155 cities worldwide. The airport is also an economic powerhouse, facilitating 6.3% of Ontario's GDP, equivalent to $42 billion.
Toronto Pearson International Airport offers various transportation options to reach downtown Toronto. The fastest way is by taxi, which takes approximately 22 minutes and costs $45-$60. Another quick option is the Union Pearson Express train, which takes 25 minutes and costs $12.35 for a one-way ticket. This train departs every 15-20 minutes and offers free rides for children under 12.
Alternatively, travellers can take the bus from Toronto Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto. The bus departs every two to three hours and takes around 30 minutes. The bus is the cheapest option, with tickets ranging from $1 to $30.
Whether arriving or departing, Toronto Pearson International Airport provides efficient transportation options to and from downtown Toronto, ensuring convenient access for travellers.
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It is named after Lester B. Pearson, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Toronto Pearson International Airport, branded as Toronto Pearson, is the largest and busiest airport in Canada. It is located 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi) northwest of Downtown Toronto, with the majority of the airport situated in the city of Mississauga and a small portion extending into Toronto's western district of Etobicoke. The airport features five runways, two passenger terminals, and numerous cargo and maintenance facilities on a site that covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres).
Toronto Pearson is named after Lester B. Pearson, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and the 14th Prime Minister of Canada. Lester Bowles Pearson was born in Toronto on April 23, 1897, and passed away on December 27, 1972. He was Canada's foremost diplomat of the 1950s and 1960s and played a crucial role in formulating the country's postwar foreign policy, particularly its involvement in NATO and the United Nations, where he served as president of the General Assembly.
Lester B. Pearson is renowned for his diplomatic efforts in ending the Suez Crisis by facilitating the departure of Britain and France from Egypt. For this, he was awarded the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize "for his crucial contribution to the deployment of a United Nations Emergency Force in the wake of the Suez Crisis". He is generally considered one of the most influential Canadians of the 20th century and is ranked among the greatest Canadian prime ministers.
During his political career, Lester B. Pearson implemented several significant policies, including a Canada Pension Plan, a universal medicare system, a unified Armed Forces, and the introduction of a new national flag. He also played a role in ending the Suez Crisis, for which he received international recognition. His work and influence extended beyond his role as Prime Minister, as he served as a training instructor during World War I and excelled in athletics, winning awards in lacrosse and ice hockey.
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Frequently asked questions
The Toronto Pearson International Airport covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres or 7.2 square miles).
The airport has two active passenger terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
The airport has five runways.
The Toronto airport has a total passenger capacity of around 47 million per year, but this number has been exceeded on several occasions.
In 2021, the airport handled around 416,966 metric tons of cargo.