Toronto Pearson International Airport Set to Lead in 2025

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is poised to become Canada’s busiest airport in 2025, with over 65,000 scheduled flights planned throughout the year. This surge in activity underscores the airport’s central role in the nation’s aviation landscape, serving as a key hub for both domestic and international travel. The ten most popular routes from YYZ alone are expected to accommodate more than 10 million seats, highlighting the airport’s significance for air travel in Canada.

The top destination from Toronto Pearson is Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), which is anticipated to see 5,885 round-trip flights. Following closely are Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with 4,595 flights, and Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW), expected to receive 3,822 flights. The United States also features prominently, with LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York taking the fourth spot and Calgary International Airport (YYC) rounding out the top five.

This data comes from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, which indicates a notable disparity in traffic volume. The gap between YYZ and YVR represents approximately 20%, with a similar drop from Vancouver to Ottawa. Air Canada is the dominant carrier for all top routes, reinforcing its vital role in the Canadian aviation sector.

Toronto Pearson’s Strategic Importance

Toronto is not only Canada’s largest city but also serves as a pivotal hub between the country’s coasts. YYZ’s operational capacity has solidified its position, serving over 50 million passengers in 2019 and continuing to grow post-pandemic. The airport spans over 4,600 acres and is serviced by more than 50 airlines, offering flights to 155 destinations worldwide.

The airport supports approximately 50,000 jobs in the Toronto area and plays a significant role in Ontario’s economy, contributing to about 6.3% of the province’s GDP, estimated at $42 billion. Air cargo operations also thrive at Pearson, with nearly 400,000 tons of deliveries processed annually, facilitated by 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space.

Air Canada, operating a substantial portion of the flights, has invested heavily in YYZ, claiming about 50% of the market share at the airport. While the airline has not yet reached pre-pandemic traffic levels, it has experienced a steady growth rate of 3-5% per year since the end of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Future Developments and Enhancements

Looking ahead, Toronto Pearson is undergoing significant upgrades through the Pearson LIFT program, aimed at enhancing passenger experience and expanding capacity. This three-pronged initiative focuses on modernizing terminals, improving retail and dining options, and potentially adding a new terminal. Renovations to Terminals 1 and 3 are already underway, with improvements to restrooms and jet bridges.

Deborah Flint, President and CEO of Toronto Pearson, expressed enthusiasm for Air Canada’s expanding network, stating, “We are thrilled for Air Canada to further grow its network at Toronto Pearson, which strengthens Canada’s connection to economies throughout the world.” This growth aligns with the airport’s vision to be a leader in international air travel.

Air Canada is also actively expanding its international services, adding new destinations in Mexico and South America for winter 2025 and introducing nonstop flights to Shanghai, Budapest, and Prague in the summer. Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President at Air Canada, emphasized that this growth will reinforce Toronto Pearson’s status as a major international hub.

As the busiest airport in Canada, Toronto Pearson is set to enhance its role in the global aviation sector. With infrastructure improvements and a robust airline network, the airport is well-positioned for continued growth and success, aiming to accommodate 65 million travelers by the mid-2030s. The future looks bright for YYZ as it strives to maintain its position at the forefront of air travel in Canada and beyond.