Toronto Pearson International Airport, or Pearson Airport (IATA: YYZ, ICAO: CYYZ), located 27 kilometres (17 mi) west of downtown Toronto by road, in Mississauga, Ontario, is Canada's busiest airport and part of the National Airports System.
In 2006 the airport was ranked 29th among the world's busiest airports, handling 30.9 million passengers and the 20th busiest airport for aircraft movements with 417,183. 505,000 tonnes of cargo also moved through the airport in 2006. The airport, serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), is the primary hub for Air Canada, as well as a major hub for WestJet, second only to Calgary. Formerly run by Transport Canada, Toronto Pearson International Airport is now run by a non-profit agency, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority through a 60-year lease with Transport Canada.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3, which opened in February 1991, was built to offset traffic from old Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. It was built as a private venture and was a state of the art terminal containing, among other things, a US customs pre-clearance facility. In 1997 the GTAA purchased Terminal 3, shortly thereafter implementing a $350million expansion.
The GTAA Terminal 3 Redevelopment Team (T3RD) was formed to oversee the terminal expansion. In 2004, the Pier C Expansion opened. In June 2006, the East Processor Extension (EPE) started operations. With a soaring, undulating roofline, the EPE added 40 new check-in counters, new retail space, more secure 'hold-screening' for baggage and a huge picture window offering one of the most convenient apron viewing locations at the airport. Improved Canadian Border services and a more open arrivals hall were included in Phase I of the expansion. Phase II of the EPE has been completed in 2007 and includes larger security screening areas and additional international baggage claim areas. Due for completion by late 2007 is the West Processor Expansion Shell with complete outfitting to be complete by early 2008.
The following airlines use Terminal 3:
- Air France (Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
- British Airways (London-Heathrow)
- Czech Airlines (Prague) [seasonal; resumes May 2008]
- Delta Air Lines (Atlanta)
- Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Atlanta)
- Delta Connection operated by Comair (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, New York-JFK)
- Delta Connection operated by SkyWest (Salt Lake City)
- Finnair (Helsinki) [seasonal]
- KLM (Amsterdam)
- Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
- US Airways (Charlotte, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Phoenix)
- US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Philadelphia)
- US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines (Charlotte)
Trivia
- In 1969, American guitarist Jimi Hendrix was arrested at the airport for possession of hashish and heroin. Hendrix was acquitted after he argued in his trial defense that without him knowing, a fan slipped it into his bag.
- In 1981, the Canadian rock group Rush recorded the Grammy Award Nominated instrumental titled YYZ in tribute to the airport. The song opens with the Morse code for the VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) located at the airport and features sonically the atmosphere of travel at Toronto Pearson. From the hustle and bustle of people moving, airplanes taking off, waiting for arrivals and takeoffs, the frantic pace of missing a flight and the eventual landing at the destination, etc. is all captured in the song according to drummer Neil Peart.
- In 1987, the British Rock group Pink Floyd performed their rehearsals for the "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" World Tour in one of the Air Canada hangars at the airport.
- In 1994, the TVOntario (TVO) children's show called Mighty Machines filmed one of their first episodes (Mighty Machines at the Airport) at the original Terminal 1. Canadian Airlines was the featured airline.
- The Air France Flight 358 crash on August 2, 2005 was dramatized on the television show Mayday, without the involvement of either Air France or the GTAA.
- The music video for Celine Dion's 2004 radio hit "You and I" was filmed partly at Toronto Pearson International Airport. This song was part of Air Canada's marketing campaign at the time.
Toronto
- CN Tower
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
