Roberta Aguirre
Canada is a vast country with many sparsely populated areas. Air transportation is essential for its dispersed population. Canada has numerous commercial airports, including Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal Trudeau, Calgary, and Edmonton International Airports, as well as Ottawa MacDonald International Airport. Toronto Pearson is the largest and busiest airport in Canada, located in Mississauga, Ontario. It is followed by Vancouver International Airport, which is strategically positioned on the west coast of Canada, serving as a hub for flights to Asia and Oceania.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of commercial airports | 13 (as per the latest data from Transport Canada) |
| Busiest airport | Toronto Pearson Airport |
| Number 2 busiest airport | Vancouver International Airport |
| Largest airline | Air Canada |
| Second-largest airline | WestJet Airlines |
| Number of passengers in 2020 | 46 million (including 29 million domestic passengers) |
| Number of aircraft movements in 2020 | 3.1 million |
| Cargo traffic at Toronto Pearson Airport in 2020 | 303,600 metric tons |
| Cargo traffic at Vancouver International Airport in 2020 | 232,640 metric tons |
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What You'll Learn
Toronto Pearson is Canada's busiest airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport. Located in Mississauga, about 20 to 28 km west of downtown Toronto in the province of Ontario, the airport covers 1,867 hectares and has five runways, two active passenger terminals, and an infield concourse with additional bridged gates.
In 2018, Toronto Pearson handled 473,000 flights and accommodated 49.5 million passengers, solidifying its position as Canada's busiest airport. The airport's location within the most populous metropolitan region of Canada also contributes to its high volume of passenger traffic and aircraft movements.
Toronto Pearson serves as a hub for major Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, offering domestic and international flights to numerous destinations worldwide. The airport also handles extensive cargo operations, with three main cargo facilities that manage more than 50% of Canada's total international air cargo.
The airport is well-connected to Toronto's public transportation network, with the Union Pearson Express (UP Express) providing a direct link to downtown Toronto. Passengers also have access to various transportation options, including cabs, buses, rental cars, and ridesharing services. Additionally, Toronto Pearson offers a range of amenities, including eateries, passenger lounges, and airport hotels.
Toronto Pearson's status as Canada's busiest airport has led to initiatives to mitigate aircraft noise. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) has developed a balanced approach to noise management, including noise operating restrictions, abatement procedures, and monitoring.
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Vancouver International is Canada's second busiest airport
Canada is a large country with many sparsely populated areas, and air transportation is essential for connecting its remote communities. Toronto Pearson Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Canada, serving around 47 million passengers annually. It is located in Mississauga, about 20 km west of Toronto in the province of Ontario.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is Canada's second busiest airport, located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia. YVR is about 12 km from Downtown Vancouver. It serves as a hub for Air Canada and WestJet and has won several notable international best airport awards. The airport has been recognised for its accessibility features, receiving the Rick Hansen Accessibility Award in 2004.
YVR is a significant trans-Pacific hub, offering more direct flights to China than any other airport in North America or Europe. It is also one of the few major international airports with a terminal dedicated to scheduled floatplanes. The airport has over 70 gates and is served by 53 airlines, providing connections to various domestic and international destinations.
The history of Vancouver International Airport dates back to 1929 when the City of Vancouver acquired land on Sea Island for aviation purposes. During World War II, the airport was leased to the federal government and played a role in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The present main terminal was completed in 1968 and has since been expanded to include separate domestic and international terminals. The Domestic section was renovated in 2005, and the International concourse has undergone expansions to accommodate more gates and remote stand operations.
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Toronto Airport has two active terminals
Toronto Pearson International Airport, located in Mississauga, Ontario, is Canada's largest and busiest airport. It is situated 25 kilometres (16 miles) northwest of downtown Toronto, with a small portion of the airfield extending into Toronto's western district of Etobicoke. The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. It serves as the main airport for Toronto and the surrounding region, known as the Golden Horseshoe.
Terminal 1 of Toronto International Airport offers a range of facilities and amenities, including an eight-storey parking lot, lounges, and the ThyssenKrupp Express Walkways, which make it easy for passengers to get around. The terminal has 58 gates spread across three concourses, housing Gates D, F, and E. It can accommodate Airbus 380 at two of its gates, with Emirates currently providing Airbus 380 flights. The ground floor of the terminal houses the ground transit system, while the second floor is for departures, providing access to all gates. The third floor is where international travellers check in and board their flights.
Terminal 3 is home to the Cargo East facility, also known as the VISTA cargo area, which is located north of the terminal. The VISTA cargo area is a multi-tenant facility with a large warehouse space and an adjacent common-use cargo apron. Additionally, the Toronto Airport terminals are linked by the APM Terminal Link Train, which operates 24/7 and provides free connections between the terminals. The train has a frequency of every 4 minutes during peak hours and every 8 minutes at other times, with a travel time of about 2 minutes between the terminals.
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Calgary International is Alberta's busiest airport
Canada is a large country with many sparsely populated areas. Air transportation is essential for its dispersed population. The country is a world leader in connecting remote communities by air. Toronto Pearson Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Canada, with two active terminals.
Calgary International Airport is located in Alberta, Canada, and is the province's busiest airport. It is also one of Canada's busiest airports overall and the fourth busiest by passenger traffic and aircraft movements. The airport is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 miles) northeast of downtown Calgary and covers an area of 20.82 square kilometres (8.04 square miles).
Calgary International Airport serves the city of Calgary and the wider region of Alberta. It is well-connected, with nonstop flights to destinations in North and Central America, Europe, and Asia. The airport has a range of facilities, including a chapel, a pharmacy, a spa, arcade games, a children's play area, and a business centre. There are also many dining options, including a food court and various restaurants and bars.
The airport has a long history, with McCall Field, as it was previously known, seeing 110,984 passenger arrivals and 96,287 departures in 1957. In the 1960s, the Calgary City Council lobbied the federal government to designate the airport as an "international airport". In 1974, the airport hosted CP Air's flight testing for the Boeing 747. In 2016, the airport was officially renamed "YYC Calgary International Airport", reflecting its IATA code.
Calgary International Airport continues to expand and improve its facilities, with an ongoing International Terminal Expansion project that will double the size of the existing facility and add nearly two million square feet and 22 new aircraft gates.
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There are 13 international airports in Canada
Canada is a large country with many remote communities, so air transportation is essential. As of 11 August 2023, there are 13 international airports in Canada. These airports are designated as such by Transport Canada, which also owns and operates 23 airports across the country.
The busiest airports in Canada include Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton International Airports, as well as Ottawa MacDonald International Airport. Toronto Pearson is the largest and busiest airport in Canada, with two active terminals. It is also the leading airport in terms of cargo traffic, with approximately 303,600 metric tons transported in 2020.
Vancouver International Airport is the second busiest airport in Canada and serves as the country's hub for flights to Asia and Oceania. Montréal-Trudeau has also seen substantial passenger growth in recent years, serving over 22 million passengers annually, with nearly 16 million on international flights.
Calgary International Airport is the busiest airport in Alberta and the fourth busiest in all of Canada. The region's petroleum and tourism industries, as well as its proximity to Banff National Park, have contributed to its high passenger traffic.
Canada's flag carrier, Air Canada, is headquartered in Montreal and is the country's largest airline, offering domestic and international flights to over 200 destinations. WestJet is the second-largest airline, followed by Air Transat, which specialises in leisure travel to tourist destinations.
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Frequently asked questions
As of August 2023, there are 13 airports designated as international by Transport Canada. However, there are many more airports in Canada, with some sources listing the country's leading airports and others mentioning specific airports.
Leading airports in Canada include Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal Trudeau, Calgary, and Edmonton International Airports, as well as Ottawa MacDonald International Airport.
Toronto Pearson International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Canada. It is located in Mississauga, about 20 km west of Toronto in the province of Ontario.
Toronto Pearson International Airport handles the most passenger traffic in Canada. In 2020, it served approximately 13.3 million passengers.
