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Toronto Pearson International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Canada, was originally known as Malton Airport. It was renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport on 2 January 1984, in honour of Toronto-born Lester B. Pearson, the fourteenth Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original name | Malton Airport |
| Year established | 1937 |
| Year renamed Toronto International Airport | 1960 |
| Year sold to the Government of Canada | 1958 |
| Year renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport | 1984 |
| Who was it renamed after? | Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize |
| Number of runways | 5 |
| Number of passenger terminals | 2 |
| Number of cargo and maintenance facilities | 125 |
| Distance from Niagara Falls | 78 miles |
| Distance from Union Station in downtown Toronto | 25 minutes by train |
| Number of passengers handled in 2023 | 44.8 million |
| Number of passengers handled in 2024 | 46.8 million |
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What You'll Learn
The airport was originally called Malton Airport
In 1958, the municipal government of Toronto sold the airport to the federal government, which then renamed it Toronto International Airport. It was placed under the management of the Department of Transport, or Transport Canada.
In 1984, the airport was renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport in honour of Lester B. Pearson, the fourteenth Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize. Pearson was a Toronto native, and his humanitarian work in peacekeeping was recognised. Operationally, the airport is often referred to as Toronto Pearson.
The airport code for Pearson Airport is YYZ, which was the code for the station in Malton, Ontario, where the airport is located.
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It was renamed in 1984 to honour Lester B. Pearson
Toronto Pearson International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Canada, was renamed in 1984 to honour Lester B. Pearson, the fourteenth Prime Minister of Canada. Born in Toronto, Lester B. Pearson was a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, awarded in 1957 for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
The airport was originally known as Malton Airport, established in 1937 by the Toronto Harbour Commission. It was intended to serve as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport, now called Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. However, Pearson Airport became the primary airport for the Greater Toronto Area and the entire Golden Horseshoe region.
In November 1958, the municipal government of Toronto sold the airport to the federal government, which was then renamed Toronto International Airport under the management of Transport Canada. The airport underwent several expansions and developments over the years, including the addition of new terminals and the demolition of older ones.
On January 2, 1984, the airport was officially renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport. The name was changed to honour the legacy of Lester B. Pearson, recognising his significant contributions to Canada and his achievements on the world stage.
Today, Toronto Pearson International Airport handles a significant number of passengers and is a major hub for international travel, connecting Toronto to destinations worldwide.
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Lester B. Pearson was the 14th Prime Minister of Canada
Toronto Pearson International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Canada, is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada. The airport was officially renamed on 2 January 1984, in honour of the Toronto-born Pearson, who was a Canadian politician, diplomat, statesman, and scholar.
Lester Bowles Pearson, often referred to as "Mike," served as the Canadian Prime Minister from 22 April 1963 to 1968. He led two back-to-back minority governments and is known for his introduction of several groundbreaking policies. These included universal healthcare, student loans, the Canada Pension Plan, and Canada's flag. He also improved pensions and waged a "war on poverty."
Before entering politics, Pearson had a distinguished career as a diplomat. He played a crucial role in founding the United Nations and NATO. He served as the Canadian ambassador to the United States from 1944 to 1946 and was the seventh president of the United Nations General Assembly from 1952 to 1953. In 1957, he became the first Canadian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping and his role in ending the Suez Crisis.
Pearson is widely regarded as one of the most influential Canadians of the 20th century and is ranked among the greatest Canadian prime ministers. His legacy is honoured in various ways across Canada, including the naming of Toronto Pearson International Airport, numerous schools, buildings, and places bearing his name.
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He won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work
Toronto Pearson International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Canada, is named in honour of Lester B. Pearson, the fourteenth Prime Minister of Canada. In 1957, Lester B. Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
Lester B. Pearson played a significant role in establishing the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), which was instrumental in resolving the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956. As a result of his efforts, Pearson is often regarded as the father of modern peacekeeping. The concept of UNEF was based on the idea of deploying a multinational force under UN command to ensure the peace agreement between Egypt, Israel, and their allies. This initiative not only helped end the Suez Crisis but also set a precedent for future peacekeeping operations worldwide.
Lester B. Pearson's contributions to international diplomacy and his unwavering commitment to peace and stability made him a highly respected figure globally. His work laid the foundation for the modern concept of peacekeeping, where neutral parties intervene to prevent conflict and maintain peace in volatile regions. Pearson's efforts highlighted the importance of diplomacy, negotiation, and collaborative action in resolving international disputes.
The renaming of the airport in 1984 to Lester B. Pearson International Airport was a tribute to his legacy and a recognition of his pivotal role in shaping Canada's foreign policy and promoting international peace. The airport, located in Mississauga, Ontario, serves as a hub for international travel, connecting millions of passengers to destinations across six continents.
With a vast expanse equivalent to 12,500 hockey rinks, Toronto Pearson International Airport boasts five runways, two passenger terminals, and a range of cargo and maintenance facilities. It handles an impressive volume of passengers, with approximately 44.8 million travellers passing through its gates in 2023. The airport is operated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and supported by a dedicated workforce of around 50,000 individuals.
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Toronto Pearson is Canada's largest and busiest airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport. It is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Downtown Toronto. The airport covers 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres or 7.2 sq. mi.) of land and has five runways and two passenger terminals. It is the main airport serving Toronto, its metropolitan area, and the surrounding region known as the Golden Horseshoe.
Toronto Pearson is the primary global hub for Air Canada and serves as a hub for Porter Airlines and WestJet. It is also a focus city for Air Transat and a base of operations for Flair Airlines and Sunwing Airlines. The airport is operated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) as part of Transport Canada's National Airports System. It is supported by around 50,000 workers and offers facilities for United States border preclearance.
Toronto Pearson offers an extensive network of non-stop domestic flights to all major and many 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 across all six inhabited continents. In 2024, the airport handled 46.8 million passengers, and in 2019, that number was 50.5 million.
The airport was established in 1937 as Malton Airport, built by the Toronto Harbour Commission. It was intended to serve as an alternate airfield to the downtown Toronto Island Airport. However, it eventually became the primary airport for the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe region. In 1958, the municipal government of Toronto sold the airport to the federal government, and it was renamed Toronto International Airport. On 2 January 1984, it was renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport in honour of Lester B. Pearson, the fourteenth Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport is named after Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.
Toronto Pearson International Airport was originally called Malton Airport, which opened in 1938.
The airport was officially renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport on 2 January 1984.
The airport code is YYZ.
