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Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport, handling 44.8 million passengers in 2023. The airport has five runways and two passenger terminals, and it is located 22.5 kilometres northwest of downtown Toronto. On February 23, 2025, the airport resumed normal operations after a week of disruptions caused by a Delta Air Lines plane crash and extreme weather conditions. The swift emergency response during the crash prevented any fatalities, and the airport quickly returned to its regular schedule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Toronto Pearson International Airport |
| IATA Code | YYZ |
| ICAO Code | CYYZ |
| Location | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Distance from Downtown Toronto | 22.5 kilometres |
| Number of Runways | 5 |
| Number of Passenger Terminals | 2 |
| Cargo, Maintenance, and Aerospace Production Facilities | Yes |
| Airport Coverage | 1,867 hectares |
| Normal Range of Flight Cancellations | 1% of departing flights and 2% of arriving flights |
| Recent Disruptions | Delta Air Lines plane crash, extreme weather |
| Current Status | Operations back to normal |
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What You'll Learn
Toronto Pearson Airport's history and location
Toronto Pearson International Airport, coded YYZ, is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest and busiest airport in Canada, serving as the primary airport for Toronto and the surrounding region known as the Golden Horseshoe. The airport is situated 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi) northwest of Downtown Toronto, with a small portion extending into the city's western district of Etobicoke. It covers a vast area of 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) and features five runways, two passenger terminals, and numerous cargo, maintenance, and aerospace production facilities.
The history of Toronto Pearson International Airport dates back to the 1930s. Established in 1937, it was originally known as the Malton Airport and served as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport (now Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport). In 1952, Pearson pioneered preclearance, allowing it to connect domestically to smaller airports in the US that lacked customs and immigration facilities. In November 1958, the Toronto municipal government sold the airport to the federal government, which then managed it through the Department of Transport.
The airport underwent several name changes and expansions over the years. In 1960, it was renamed Toronto International Airport. The original terminal, Aeroquay One (Terminal 1), was opened in 1964 but became overloaded by the early 1970s. Terminal 3, also known as the Trillium Terminal, was opened in 1991 to offset traffic from the other terminals. In 1984, the airport was officially renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport in honour of Lester B. Pearson, Canada's 14th Prime Minister and the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
Today, Toronto Pearson continues to be a significant hub for air travel and cargo handling. It handles approximately half of Canada's international air cargo and around 44.8 million passengers in 2023. The airport is also a cultural connector, frequently used as a filming location for major motion pictures and television productions. With its two active public terminals, Toronto Pearson is designed to handle domestic, transborder, and international travel efficiently, making it a vital gateway to and from Toronto and the surrounding region.
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Previous incidents at the airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport has been the site of several notable incidents in recent years, causing travel disruptions and delays.
In June 2022, the airport experienced significant chaos and operational issues. Passengers reported painfully long lines and miserable conditions, with some being forced to wait on the tarmac for extended periods. Toronto Mayor John Tory expressed his dissatisfaction with the delays and long lineups, emphasising the impact on not just travellers but also commerce, the economy, jobs, investment, and the city's reputation. The issues were attributed to various factors, including staffing shortages, increased travel demand, and pandemic-related regulations.
In February 2025, a more severe incident occurred when a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto crash-landed and flipped over on a snowy runway. The plane, operated by Delta's subsidiary Endeavor Air, burst into flames, injuring 17 to 18 people out of the 80 passengers and crew on board. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, thanks to the swift response of emergency personnel. The airport experienced temporary closures and disruptions, with two runways closed for several days during the investigation. Within about a week, the airport resumed normal operations, with the final cleanup and runway reopening soon expected.
These incidents highlight the challenges faced by Toronto Pearson International Airport and the potential impact on traveller safety and experience.
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Airlines that use the airport as a hub
Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport, handling 44.8 million passengers in 2023. The airport has five runways and two passenger terminals, with numerous cargo, maintenance, and aerospace production facilities on a site that covers 1,867 hectares. As of 2025, more than 50 airlines operate non-stop or direct flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport to over 180 destinations across six continents. Some airlines that use Toronto Pearson International Airport as a hub include:
- Delta Air Lines
- Air Canada
- Sunwing Airlines
- Trans-Canada Air Lines
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The return to normal operations after the Delta crash
On February 17, 2025, a Delta Air Lines plane crash-landed and flipped on its roof at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The incident, which occurred at around 2:15 p.m. ET, saw the plane skid along the runway in flames before coming to a halt upside down. Fortunately, all 80 passengers and crew on board survived, and only 21 people were hospitalised for minor to critical injuries.
In the aftermath of the crash, Toronto Pearson International Airport temporarily halted flights, causing delays and cancellations. The airport resumed operations at 5 p.m. ET on the same day, but two runways remained closed, impacting travel for days. The crash occurred during challenging conditions, with the region experiencing blowing snow and strong wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
By February 23, 2025, about a week after the incident, Toronto Pearson International Airport announced that operations had returned to normal. The runway where the crash occurred had reopened, and a final cleanup was underway on the second runway, which was expected to reopen soon. This return to normalcy followed a week of high winds and 60 cm of snowfall in Toronto, causing travel disruptions across the region.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada led the investigation into the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. A preliminary report revealed that the Delta plane was travelling at a high rate of descent, with an alert being sent less than three seconds before touchdown. Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to aid in their probe.
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The airport's busiest period
Toronto Pearson Airport is Canada's busiest airport, serving the country's most populous metropolitan region. It is also one of the two busiest airports in the country in terms of both passenger traffic and aircraft movements, alongside Vancouver International Airport. Given its strategic location on the west coast, Vancouver International serves as a hub for flights to Asia and Oceania. However, Toronto Pearson's proximity to the US border means it experiences significant traffic to and from American destinations. As such, passengers travelling to the US or other international destinations are advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours in advance, while those travelling within Canada should arrive at least two hours in advance.
In addition to seasonal variations, the airport's busyness can also vary depending on the day of the week and time of day. For example, Monday mornings may be busier as people travel for business, while Sunday evenings could see an increase in traffic as people return from weekend getaways.
To help travellers plan their trips better, Toronto Pearson Airport provides information on peak times and advises passengers to arrive early during busy periods. The airport also takes into account special events, such as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which draws a large number of visitors to the city.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Toronto Pearson Airport is back to normal operations as of February 23, 2025. This comes roughly a week after a crash landing that caused travel disruptions and sent 21 people to the hospital.
On February 16, 2025, a Delta Air Lines plane crash-landed and flipped over on the runway at Toronto Pearson Airport. All 76 passengers and four crew members survived, and those hospitalized have since been released. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Two runways were closed following the Delta plane crash. The runway where the crash occurred has since reopened, and a final cleanup is underway on the second runway, which is expected to reopen soon.
