Toronto's Closest Airport: Quick Access To The City

what airport is closest to toronto canada

Toronto, Canada's largest city, is served by several airports in the area, with the closest being Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, just 5.1 miles or 8 kilometres from the city centre. Also known as the Toronto Island Airport, it is located offshore downtown Toronto on the Toronto Islands. Other nearby airports include Toronto Pearson International Airport, which is 20-30 minutes from downtown Toronto, Hamilton International Airport, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which is a two-hour drive from Toronto.

Characteristics Values
Nearest airport Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Distance from Toronto City 5.1 miles or 8.2 km
Other nearby airports Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) (11.6 miles), Hamilton International Airport (YHM) (43.7 miles), Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) (59.9 miles), Oshawa Airport (64 km)
Time to downtown Toronto 25 minutes by taxi with no traffic, 25 minutes by UP Express train
Airline Porter Airlines
Other features Located offshore downtown Toronto, close to Union Station, hotels, and attractions; free tea, coffee, and cookies for passengers

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Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (5 km from Toronto)

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, also known as the Toronto Island Airport, is located on the Toronto Islands in Lake Ontario, just offshore downtown Toronto. It is the closest airport to Toronto, only 5 km or 1.6 miles from the city centre.

The airport is small, with one runway and one passenger terminal, and is used for regional airline services and general aviation. It is the only airport with an airline that serves the Toronto city centre—Porter Airlines, a short-haul airline with destinations in Canada and the US. The airport also offers medical evacuation flights, small charter flights, and private aviation.

The airport is named after William Avery "Billy" Bishop, a Canadian First World War flying ace and World War II Air Marshal. In 2017, it was named the "Best Airport in North America" based on customer surveys from the previous year.

To get to the airport, you can take a 90-second ferry ride from the mainland, which is free for pedestrians and CA$11 round trip for cars. There is also a pedestrian tunnel connecting the airport to the mainland, and a free shuttle bus that takes passengers from the ferry terminal to Union Station in downtown Toronto.

The airport offers a range of services, including complimentary baggage carts, nursing pods, a Lost and Found, duty-free shopping, and restaurants featuring locally sourced menus.

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Toronto Pearson International Airport (32 km from Toronto)

Toronto Pearson International Airport, located 32 kilometres from Toronto, is the closest major airport to the city. It is the largest and busiest airport in Canada, serving 46.8 million passengers in 2024. The airport is located in the suburb of Mississauga, about 25 minutes from downtown Toronto with no traffic. It is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize.

Toronto Pearson International Airport has two active public terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, which handle domestic, transborder, and international flights. The airport is a hub for Air Canada, but most international airlines also fly there. It has five runways and covers an area of 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres). The airport offers various parking options, including long-term parking and curbside pick-up.

Travellers can get from the airport to downtown Toronto by taxi, which takes about 25 minutes with no traffic and costs around $65 Canadian dollars. However, there are often delays. Another option is the UP Express train, which runs every 15 to 20 minutes and gets to Union Station in 25 minutes. Tickets for the train cost $6 to $9. Several public transit buses also serve the airport.

Toronto Pearson International Airport offers a range of amenities, including beauty products, fragrances, and accessories. It also has shops for liquor and duty-free purchases. The airport is equipped with fire and emergency services, with three stations and over 80 firefighters providing fire and rescue operations.

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Region of Waterloo International Airport (101 km from Toronto)

The Region of Waterloo International Airport, formerly known as Waterloo Regional Airport, is located 101 kilometres from Toronto in Breslau, Ontario. The airport was first established in 1929 as the Kitchener-Waterloo Municipal Airport, also called Lexington Airport, and was primarily used for flight instruction. Today, it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving commercial, corporate, and general aviation.

Region of Waterloo International Airport is a full-service airport with amenities like free Wi-Fi, high-speed internet, an ATM, a licensed sit-down cafe, charging stations, complimentary luggage carts, and well-lit outdoor parking. The airport has four gates—one for international, one for domestic arrivals, and two for domestic departures—and separate baggage carousels for domestic and international travellers.

The airport is easily accessible from nearby cities. It is located just 10 minutes from Highway 401, which provides connections to Waterloo, Guelph, London, and Toronto. Additionally, there is a flexible bus route operated by Grand River Transit that serves the airport, connecting it to other routes and the surrounding area.

In terms of airlines and destinations, Flair Airlines operates flights to nine Canadian destinations, as well as two US destinations and Cancún, Mexico. Air Canada has also announced plans to launch exclusive luxury shuttle buses connecting the Region of Waterloo International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport, providing another travel option for passengers.

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Buffalo Niagara International Airport (169 km from Toronto)

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the major airport serving the Toronto area and is the busiest airport in Canada. However, if you're looking for an airport that is closer to downtown Toronto, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is a more convenient option. This airport is located just offshore downtown Toronto, near Union Station and many major hotels and attractions. Porter Airlines is the only airline that serves the Toronto city centre, offering short-haul flights within Canada and the US.

Another airport option, located in the United States, is Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), which is approximately 169 km from Toronto. This airport is about a two-hour drive from Toronto, and while you will have to deal with the hassle of crossing the US-Canada border, flying into Buffalo may be considerably cheaper if you're coming from another US destination. The Buffalo Airport is smaller and easier to navigate than Toronto Pearson International Airport, and you won't have to go through customs and immigration there. However, keep in mind that there can sometimes be long waits at the border, and you will need to factor in the additional time and cost of transportation from Buffalo to Toronto.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly option and are willing to fly with airlines like Spirit or Allegiant, Buffalo Niagara International Airport could be a good choice. Additionally, if you're interested in visiting the Niagara wine region, flying into Buffalo gives you the opportunity to explore Niagara Falls and the surrounding wine country on your way to or from Toronto.

To get from Buffalo Airport to downtown Toronto, you can expect a 90-minute taxi ride that will cost over $200. Alternatively, Flixbus USA offers a bus service between Buffalo Airport and Toronto three times a day, with tickets ranging from $21 to $40 and a journey time of approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes.

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London International Airport (187 km from Toronto)

London International Airport (YXU) is located 187 km from Toronto. The airport is a good option for those looking for an alternative to the busier Toronto Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

London International Airport is a smaller airport that serves the city of London in Ontario, Canada. While it is further away from Toronto than the other two major airports, it is still a viable option for travellers heading to the Toronto area. The airport is located 88.6 miles or 142.6 kilometres by air from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The driving distance is slightly longer, at 104 to 107.4 miles (172.9 kilometres), and the estimated driving time is approximately 2 hours.

Travellers can also opt to fly from London International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport, with an estimated flight time of around 50 minutes. This option is quicker than driving but may come with additional costs and the environmental impact of the flight should be considered.

When travelling from London International Airport to Toronto, there are a few transport options to choose from. The bus is the most affordable option, with tickets ranging from $20 to $60, and a journey time of around 2 hours. The train is another choice, with tickets priced between $23 and $85, but the journey takes a little longer, at almost 3 hours. For those on a tighter schedule, flying is the quickest option, taking just under 2 hours, but it is the most expensive, with flight prices ranging from $240 to $800.

London International Airport provides a convenient gateway to the Toronto area, especially for those who want to avoid the busier airports or are looking for a more relaxed travel experience. The airport offers both flight and ground transport connections to Toronto and the surrounding region.

Frequently asked questions

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, also known as the Toronto Island Airport, is the closest airport to Toronto, Canada. It is just 5.1 miles or 8 kilometres from Toronto City.

Toronto Pearson International Airport is the major airport serving the Toronto area and is 11.6 miles or 18.6 kilometres from Toronto City. Other nearby airports include Hamilton International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Region of Waterloo International Airport.

This depends on your destination in Toronto. Billy Bishop Airport is the closest to downtown Toronto, so it is the most convenient if you are staying in the city centre. However, Toronto Pearson International Airport is the busiest airport in Canada, serving thousands of domestic and international flights, so it may be a better option for those travelling onwards from Toronto.

Toronto Pearson International Airport is the busiest airport in Canada, so it may be cheaper to fly into one of the smaller airports nearby. Buffalo Niagara International Airport is about a two-hour drive from Toronto but may be considerably cheaper if you are flying from another U.S. destination.

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