Closest Airport To Niagara Falls, Canada: Where To Fly?

what is closest airport to niagara falls canada

Niagara Falls, Canada is a popular tourist destination, and there are several airports nearby. The closest airport is Niagara Falls International Airport, but it is small and mainly used by domestic airlines. Other nearby airports include Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Hamilton International Airport, and Toronto Pearson International Airport. Each airport offers a range of transportation options to get to Niagara Falls, including rental cars, taxis, buses, and shuttles.

Characteristics Values
Closest airport to Niagara Falls, Canada Niagara Falls International Airport, New York, USA
Distance from Niagara Falls, Canada 17.3 km
Other nearby airports Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Hamilton International Airport
Distance from Buffalo Niagara International Airport 40-45 minutes drive
Distance from Toronto Pearson International Airport 78-79 miles, 1.5 hours drive
Distance from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport 79 miles, just over 1.5 hours drive
Distance from Hamilton International Airport Less than an hour's drive

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Toronto Pearson International Airport

The airport is a major hub for visitors with Toronto as their final destination or for those with connecting flights. It is well-connected to the city of Toronto, with the UP Express train getting passengers to downtown in just 30 minutes. From downtown Toronto, travellers can easily access Niagara Falls by bus or train. The airport also has a variety of shopping and dining options, as well as free WiFi and accessibility services.

For those travelling by plane, Toronto Pearson International Airport is a convenient gateway to Niagara Falls, Canada. With its proximity to the falls and the range of transportation options available, visitors can easily access this popular tourist destination.

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Buffalo Niagara International Airport

The airport has two runways and is at an elevation of 727 feet (222 m). The terminal has a total floor area of 462,256 square feet (42,945.0 m2) with 24 gates. The first expansion of the terminal was completed in 1955, adding a restaurant and lounge, and tripling the terminal's square footage. The airport was renamed the Greater Buffalo International Airport in 1959 when it was acquired by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority from the City of Buffalo. The terminal received another overhaul in 1961, adding a new control tower and a concourse for American Airlines. The first scheduled jet service was an American Boeing 727 service to/from New York in 1965.

During the 1980s, most domestic air service in the US was provided by six "legacy carriers", including American, United, Continental, USAir, Northwest, and Delta Air Lines. In the 1990s, Buffalo Niagara International Airport grew with the addition of low-cost carriers Southwest and JetBlue. The airport exceeded the 5 million passenger mark in 2006. In 1991, a new terminal was constructed, which opened in 1997 with 15 gates. The terminal was expanded in 2001, increasing the number of gates to 24. In late 2017, the terminal began an $80 million renovation and expansion, adding more than 54,000 square feet of new space.

Many transportation companies offer shuttle, motorcoach, limousine, and taxi services to Ontario, Canada, for visitors landing at the airport.

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Hamilton International Airport

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, or Hamilton Airport, is located in Ontario, Canada. It is about an hour's drive from Niagara Falls and serves several destinations across North America. The airport is 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) southwest of downtown Hamilton and 64 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of Toronto.

The airport opened in 1940 as Mount Hope Airport, primarily serving as a Royal Canadian Air Force base. After World War II, the base closed and the airport was converted for civil use, attracting regional and international passenger services. Today, Hamilton Airport is the third-largest cargo airport in Canada and the largest overnight express cargo airport in the country. It features a 10,006 ft x 200 ft (3,050 m x 61 m) asphalt runway capable of handling large cargo operations with aircraft such as the Boeing 747.

Hamilton Airport has undergone several management changes and airline partnerships over the years. In 1996, Hamilton-Wentworth signed a 40-year contract with a consortium of private companies to manage and operate the airport. WestJet chose Hamilton as its eastern region hub in 2000, offering flights to various destinations in Canada. However, in 2004, WestJet moved its eastern hub to Toronto Pearson International Airport, resulting in the cancellation of services to Montreal and Ottawa. Despite this setback, Hamilton Airport retained flights to other destinations, and in 2007, Flyglobespan began offering seasonal services to the United Kingdom.

In recent years, Hamilton Airport has continued to develop and expand its operations. In 2017, YVR Airport Services (now Vantage Airport Group) acquired 100% ownership of TradePort International, further investing in the airport's infrastructure. In 2023, Icelandic airline Play announced plans to introduce flights between Hamilton and Reykjavik, although this route was short-lived and ended in 2025. Hamilton Airport remains an important hub for domestic low-cost carriers and cargo operations, serving the city of Hamilton and adjacent areas of Southern Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area.

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Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

The airport features a unique combination of a seaplane base, Billy Bishop Toronto City Water Aerodrome, and a main east-west runway with a shorter runway at a 20-degree angle. It primarily serves regional airline services, general aviation, and medical evacuation flights. The airport is easily accessible from the mainland through a pedestrian tunnel and a ferry system that crosses the Western Channel.

In terms of transportation to Niagara Falls, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport may not be the absolute closest airport, but it is a viable option. It is located within Toronto, which is about 90 minutes away from Niagara Falls by car. From the airport, travellers can easily access downtown Toronto and connect to various transportation options to reach Niagara Falls. These options include taxis, shuttle services, buses, and trains.

While Niagara Falls International Airport in New York, USA, is the closest airport to Niagara Falls, Canada, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport serves as a convenient gateway to the region. It provides easy connections to surrounding areas, including Niagara Falls, making it a popular choice for travellers visiting the famous falls and exploring the surrounding attractions in Canada.

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Niagara Falls International Airport

The closest airport to Niagara Falls, Canada, is Niagara Falls International Airport, which is located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara, New York, USA. It is about 10.8 miles (17.3 km) or a 30-minute drive from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The airport is a joint civil-military airfield, sharing its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, which is home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 914th Air Refueling Wing.

The airport's history dates back to 1928 when it opened as a municipal airport with four crushed-stone runways. During World War II, Bell Aircraft established a manufacturing plant next to the airport, producing thousands of aircraft during the war. In 1956, American Airlines ceased serving the airport, and it saw various airlines come and go over the years, including Air Niagara, Empire Airlines, and Kiwi International Air Lines. In 2009, a new two-story terminal was opened at a cost of $42.5 million, with four gates and the capacity to accommodate a Boeing 747.

While Niagara Falls International Airport is the closest, there are other nearby airports that serve as alternatives for travellers. These include Buffalo Niagara International Airport, located 20 minutes from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, and Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario, Canada, which is about a 90-minute drive from Niagara Falls and offers direct flights to several domestic and international destinations. Additionally, the Hamilton airport in Ontario is located 50 minutes from Niagara Falls and is convenient for travellers flying in and out of Canada and the United States.

Frequently asked questions

The closest airport to Niagara Falls, Canada, is Niagara Falls International Airport, which is located 17.3 km from the falls. However, this airport mainly serves domestic flights from the southern United States. If you are travelling internationally, Buffalo Niagara International Airport is a good option, located only 45 minutes to an hour from the falls. Toronto Pearson International Airport is also a major hub, located around 90 minutes from Niagara Falls, Canada. Finally, Hamilton International Airport is less than an hour's drive from the falls and is perfect for those travelling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or Edmonton, Alberta.

From Buffalo Airport, you can take a shuttle, motorcoach, limousine, taxi, rental car, or bus to Niagara Falls, Canada. Toronto Pearson International Airport is served by car rentals, shared transportation services, taxis, and public transport.

It is recommended that you book your tickets to Niagara Falls, Canada, in advance to secure your preferred travel dates and times. The summer months and holidays are particularly busy, so booking early is advisable to avoid disappointment.

Yes, you can also travel to Niagara Falls, Canada, by car, bus, or train. There are several intersecting highways and railways that make travelling to the city convenient. Additionally, Niagara Falls, Canada, can be accessed via four border crossings: the Peace Bridge, Queenston-Lewiston Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, and Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.

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