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Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport, with 44.8 million passengers in 2023 and 50.5 million in 2019. It is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The airport has two terminals, both of which handle domestic, transborder, and international travel. It covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) and has five runways. In contrast, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in North America and the world, with over 107 million passengers in 2019. It has been open since 1926 and has a higher passenger capacity than Atlanta's ranking as the 8th largest metropolitan area in the US. While Toronto Pearson is large and handles a significant number of passengers, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta handles more passengers and covers a larger area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Toronto Pearson International Airport |
| Location | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Year of opening | 1958 |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Runways | 5 |
| Area | 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) or 7.2 square miles |
| Passenger traffic | 50.5 million (2019); 13.3 million (2020); 44.8 million (2023) |
| Cargo | 388,700 metric tonnes (2020) |
| De-icing bays | 6 |
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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. In 2023, it handled 44.8 million passengers, and in 2019, it served 50.5 million passengers. The airport is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and is the primary airport serving Toronto and its metropolitan area. It is named after Lester B. Pearson, Canada's 14th Prime Minister and 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The airport covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) and has five runways and two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, which are designed to handle domestic, transborder, and international flights.
Toronto Pearson is a major hub for several airlines, including Air Canada, Porter Airlines, FedEx Express, Air Transat, and WestJet. It offers non-stop or direct flights to over 180 destinations across six continents and provides service to more than 155 cities worldwide. The airport also boasts an extensive cargo operation, handling 388,700 metric tonnes of cargo in 2020. Toronto Pearson is a significant economic contributor, facilitating 6.3% of Ontario's GDP, or $42 billion, and providing employment for around 50,000 people before the pandemic.
The airport is well-connected to downtown Toronto through the Union Pearson Express (UP Express), an airport rail link that offers a 25-minute travel time to Union Station, Toronto's busiest intermodal transportation hub. Union Station provides connections to regional and inter-city rail and bus services, making it convenient for passengers travelling to and from the airport.
In addition to its role as a transportation hub, Toronto Pearson has also become an important employment zone, second only to the city of Toronto itself in terms of job creation. The airport's facilities include a large warehouse space of 1.2 million square feet and various cargo, maintenance, and aerospace production facilities. Toronto Pearson's efficient operations and convenient connections have made it a key gateway to Canada for travellers and businesses alike.
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Toronto Pearson has two public terminals
Toronto Pearson International Airport, located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is the country's largest and busiest airport. It is situated 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Downtown Toronto and is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
The airport has two active public terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, both of which handle domestic, transborder, and international travel. Terminal 1, which opened in 2004, is a 346,000-square-metre facility with 58 gates. It replaced the former Aeroquay One, also known as the original Terminal 1. The former Terminal 2 was closed and demolished in 2008 to make way for the expansion of Terminal 1.
Toronto Pearson's Terminal 3 is located near the Cargo East (VISTA) facility, which is a multi-tenant facility with several buildings organised in a U-shape, offering 29,500 square metres of warehouse space. The airport also has a private VIP terminal operated by Skyservice FBO, providing exclusive services such as a 24/7 concierge, private customs, personalised catering, and VIP ground transportation.
As Canada's busiest airport, Toronto Pearson handled 50.5 million passengers in 2019, and even during the pandemic year of 2020, 13.3 million passengers travelled through the airport. The airport covers 4,600 acres of land and has five runways and a large network of taxiways measuring over 40 kilometres in length. It is home to the Toronto Area Control Centre, one of seven area control centres in Canada operated by Nav Canada.
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Atlanta Airport has the highest passenger traffic in the world
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also known as ATL, is the world's busiest airport. It has held this title for 26 of the last 27 years, with the exception of 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip in passenger traffic. However, Atlanta regained its top position in 2021 and has maintained it since. In 2024, the airport served approximately 108 million passengers, a 3.3% increase from 2023, though still about 2% below its 2019 passenger volume.
The airport's high passenger traffic can be attributed to its role as a hub for Delta Air Lines in Georgia's capital city. Its central location within the United States also makes it an ideal transit point for east-west travel, contributing to its high volume of domestic and international passengers.
While Atlanta International Airport boasts the highest passenger traffic globally, it is important to note that it is not the largest airport in terms of physical size. Airports such as Denver International Airport and Orlando International Airport serve millions of travellers each year and have ample room for future expansion.
In comparison, Toronto Pearson Airport, Canada's busiest airport, served 50.5 million passengers in 2019. This number dropped significantly to 13.3 million in 2020 due to the pandemic. While Pearson Airport facilitates a high volume of traffic and contributes significantly to Ontario's GDP, it does not come close to matching the passenger traffic of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
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Atlanta Airport is named after former mayors
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is named after former mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. The airport has been known by numerous names in the past, including Candler Field, after former mayor Asa Candler, Atlanta Municipal Airport, William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport, and William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport.
In 2003, the Atlanta City Council voted to rename the airport to honour former mayor Maynard Jackson, who had died four months prior. Jackson was the first African-American mayor of Atlanta and was responsible for building the massive new terminal at the airport, which was the largest construction project in the South at the time, costing $500 million. The project included an innovative passenger transfer hub system that allowed passengers to reach terminals via an underground transportation system. Jackson also helped Atlanta secure its winning bid to host the 1996 Olympics, ensuring the city had an airport fully equipped to accommodate global travel and Olympic teams.
The airport's current name, Hartsfield–Jackson, is a combination of Hartsfield's last name and Jackson's last name. William B. Hartsfield was also a former mayor of Atlanta, and the airport was named after him in 1971, the year of what would have been his 81st birthday. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport covers 4,700 acres of land and has five parallel runways. It has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, excluding 2020 when travel was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In comparison, Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada facilitated 50.5 million passengers in 2019 and 13.3 million in 2020, covering 4,600 acres of land. While Toronto Pearson is Canada's busiest airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport handles more passenger traffic and has a slightly larger acreage.
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Toronto Pearson has the world's largest Central De-icing Facility
Toronto Pearson Airport is Canada's busiest airport, with 50.5 million passengers travelling through in 2019. It is also home to the world's largest Central De-icing Facility (CDF).
The 65-acre complex is capable of de-icing up to six Class A or Class E aircraft (e.g. B747s) or twelve Class B or Class C aircraft (e.g. B737s, A320s) simultaneously. The facility can handle even more aircraft if needed, as planes waiting in line can also be de-iced at the same time, significantly increasing the facility's throughput capacity. The CDF has a sophisticated glycol storage, handling, and dispensing system, with three locations for de-icing vehicles to fill up. The operations control centre can accommodate up to 40 personnel and service up to three de-icing vehicles simultaneously.
The CDF was built in response to the challenges posed by icy Canadian winters, which often disrupt travel. It is a significant upgrade from the previous de-icing process, where de-icing was done on the apron before aircraft taxied to their take-off positions or at the passenger gates. The centralization of de-icing facilities improves operational efficiency and enhances passenger safety. It also helps address environmental concerns by properly collecting and discharging waste glycol fluids, reducing their harmful impact on nearby waterways.
The CDF is a testament to Toronto Pearson Airport's commitment to ensuring smooth and safe winter operations. With approximately 190 members on the De-icing Operations team, the facility can de-ice up to 60 aircraft per hour and more than 500 per day, translating to an impressive average of 16,500 planes each season.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Toronto Pearson International Airport is the largest airport in Canada, but it is not bigger than Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is the busiest airport in the world.
In 2023, Pearson handled 44.8 million passengers. This number was 50.5 million in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic affected passenger traffic in 2020, with only 13.3 million passengers travelling through the airport that year.
Pearson has two active public terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and five runways.
Pearson has the largest Central De-icing Facility in the world, servicing over 10,500 aircraft each winter. The airport also handles approximately half of all the international air cargo in Canada.
