Jazmin Li
Toronto Pearson International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Canada, was established in 1937. It was originally known as Malton Airport and was built by the Toronto Harbour Commission. The airport was intended to serve as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport, now known as Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The first landing at Malton Airport took place on 29 August 1938, when an American Airways DC-3 from Buffalo touched down. Over the years, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions to become the award-winning, world-class airport it is today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Established | 1937, 1939 or 1938 |
| First Name | Malton Airport |
| Builder | Toronto Harbour Commission |
| Purpose | To serve as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport |
| Management | Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) |
| Location | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Number of Terminals | 2 (Terminal 1 and Terminal 3) |
| Number of Runways | 5 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Toronto Pearson Airport was first known as Malton Airport
Toronto Pearson Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Canada, was first known as Malton Airport. It was established in 1937 by the Toronto Harbour Commission and was originally intended to serve as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport (now Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport). The airport was built on a site that originally covered 13 farmers' fields, and it took almost 20 years to build a modest terminal building. During this early period, the airport consisted of one grassy landing strip and two tarmac runways. The Chapman farmhouse served as the first office and airport terminal, before being replaced by a purpose-built wooden terminal in 1938.
The first landing at Malton Airport occurred on August 29, 1938, when an American Airways DC-3 from Buffalo touched down. In 1939, the airfield became known as Toronto International Airport, reflecting its new status as the primary airport for the Greater Toronto Area and the entire Golden Horseshoe region. During World War II, Malton Airport served as a base of operations for No. 1 Elementary Service Flying School and No. 1 Air Observer School. The airport continued to expand, adding a third terminal in 1949, which could handle 400,000 passengers per year.
In November 1958, the municipal government of Toronto sold the airport to the federal government, and it came under the management of the Department of Transport. This change in ownership precipitated another renaming, and in 1960, the airport officially became Toronto International Airport. The airport has since undergone further redevelopments, including the addition of new runways and the expansion of terminal buildings to accommodate growing aircraft volume.
Finally, on January 2, 1984, the airport was renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport, honouring the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize. The name was shortened to Toronto Pearson International Airport, and it continues to be a vital transportation hub, handling millions of passengers each year.
Eagan, Minnesota: Airport or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was established in 1937 or 1939
Toronto Pearson International Airport, located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has a rich history. It was established in 1937 or 1939 and has since become the largest and busiest airport in Canada, handling 46.8 million passengers in 2024. The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
In its early years, the airport was known as the Malton Airport, operated by the Toronto Harbour Commission. It was originally intended to serve as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport, now known as Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. However, Pearson became the primary airport for the Greater Toronto Area and the entire Golden Horseshoe region. The first landing at Malton Airport was on August 29, 1938, when an American Airways DC-3 from Buffalo touched down, marking the first of many landings to come.
The process of establishing Toronto Pearson International Airport began in November 1936 when the Toronto City Council formed an "Advisory Airport Committee" to advise on potential locations for a municipal airport. The committee proposed several locations, and the Government of Canada approved two sites: Malton and the Toronto Islands. It was decided that a seaplane and land airport would be constructed on the island, while an auxiliary field would be built in Malton. The airport took almost twenty years to build a modest terminal building, designed to house the latest aviation technology at the time.
Over the years, the airport has undergone significant expansion and improvements. In 1958, the municipal government of Toronto sold the airfield, then known as Malton Airport, to the Government of Canada. The facility was subsequently renamed Toronto International Airport and came under the management of Transport Canada. The airport was officially renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport on January 2, 1984, honouring the notable Canadian prime minister. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) assumed management, operation, and control of the airport in 1996 and has continued to enhance and develop the airport's infrastructure.
Understanding Airport-Approved Locks and Their Significance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Toronto Pearson Airport, originally known as Malton Airport, was established in 1937 or 1939. The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the 14th Prime Minister of Canada.
Lester B. Pearson was a Toronto-born politician who served as Canada's 14th prime minister from 1963 to 1968. In 1957, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping. Pearson played a key role in establishing the United Nations (UN) and served as the first president of the UN General Assembly in 1946.
The municipal government of Toronto sold the airport to the federal government in November 1958, and it was renamed Toronto International Airport under the management of the Department of Transport. It was then officially renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport on January 2, 1984, to honour Pearson's contributions to Canada and the world.
The original Malton Airport was built on a site that covered 13 farmers' fields. The first landing at the airport took place on August 29, 1938, when an American Airways DC-3 from Buffalo touched down. During World War II, the airport served as a base for flying schools and played a crucial role in training pilots and air observers. Over the years, the airport has undergone significant expansions and improvements to accommodate the growing number of passengers and aircraft.
Uber's Airport Pickup: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It is Canada's largest and busiest airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport. Located in Mississauga, Ontario, it is the primary airport serving Toronto and its metropolitan area, as well as the surrounding region known as the Golden Horseshoe. With five runways and two passenger terminals, it handled 46.8 million passengers in 2024, and 50.5 million in 2019.
The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping. It was first established in 1937 as Malton Airport, built by the Toronto Harbour Commission, and was intended to serve as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport. However, it quickly became one of the busiest and most important airports in Canada. In 1958, the municipal government of Toronto sold the airport to the Government of Canada, which renamed it Toronto International Airport. It was officially renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport in 1984.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) assumed management of the airport in 1996 and has since invested over $4 billion in improvements. This has resulted in modern terminals and piers capable of handling millions of passengers annually. The airport has seen substantial redevelopment, including the addition of cargo facilities and two new runways to accommodate the growing aircraft volume.
Toronto Pearson is a major hub for several airlines, including Air Canada, Porter Airlines, FedEx Express, Air Transat, and WestJet. It offers an extensive network of non-stop domestic flights to major and secondary cities across all provinces and territories of Canada. As of 2025, more than 50 airlines operate non-stop or direct flights to over 180 destinations worldwide. The airport also boasts impressive business facilities, including a business centre and 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space.
Airports: Do They Check Your Checked Bags?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The airport has two active public terminals
Toronto Pearson International Airport has two active public terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Both terminals are designed to handle all three sectors of travel: domestic, transborder, and international. This means that terminal operations are grouped by airlines and airline alliances, rather than by domestic and international routes.
Terminal 1 is a 346,000-square-metre (3,724,000 sq ft) facility with 58 gates. It was designed by Airports Architects Canada, a joint venture comprising Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, Adamson Associates Architects, and Moshe Safdie and Associates. Terminal 1 measures over 346,000 m2, making it the largest airport terminal in Canada and the 12th largest in the world by floor space. Terminal 1 is also home to the ThyssenKrupp Express Walkway, the world's fastest-moving walkway.
Terminal 3 opened on February 21, 1991, to offset traffic from the original Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. It was originally referred to as the "Trillium Terminal 3" or simply the "Trillium Terminal". Terminal 3 was designed by B+H Architects and Scott Associates Architects Inc. and was originally built as a private venture. It served as the base of operations for the now-defunct Canadian Airlines International.
The former Terminal 2 was permanently closed and demolished in 2008 to make way for the expansion of the current Terminal 1. Further expansions of Terminal 1 are planned for the future.
Navigating Frankfurt Airport: English Signage and You
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Toronto Pearson Airport was established in 1939.
The original name of the airport was Malton Airport.
The airport was built by the Toronto Harbour Commission.
Toronto Pearson Airport became the primary airport for the Greater Toronto Area and the entire Golden Horseshoe region shortly after it was established.
The Chapman farmhouse was the first building used as the airport terminal.
