Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), also called Toronto Island Airport, is the second airport serving Toronto, the largest city in Canada.
The airport is located on the Toronto Islands, connected to downtown Toronto via a short pedestrian tunnel beneath the harbor or a short free ferry ride. Billy Bishop Airport is just offshore from Toronto’s financial district - it takes just 10-20 minutes to reach Union Station or King Street, making it dramatically more convenient for downtown access than Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
YTZ handles around 2-2.5 million passengers annually. It is one of the nine Canadian airports with US Border pre-clearance facilities.
Major Airlines - Porter Airlines, Air Canada Express
Billy Bishop Toronto Airport is the primary hub for Porter Airlines. The airline operates more than 1000 flights per month to over 15 destinations in Canada and the USA, including frequent commuter-style routes to Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, and New York.
Air Canada Express complements the network coverage of YTZ with direct regional flights to Montreal and Ottawa in Canada, and several US cities such as Chicago, Boston, and Washington.
The last carrier to offer flights to and from Toronto City Airport is the charter airline Propair, which sometimes operates flights to North Bay and Rouyn-Noranda.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has a single terminal. It is located on the Toronto Islands and is connected to another small building on the mainland, where the elevators and the entrance to the tunnel are.
In this unique design, you can take an elevator down to the underwater tunnel and walk 5-6 minutes to reach the gates or take the 90-second ferry across the water.
The terminal is spread over two levels as follows:
Upper level: houses all Check-in counters and the Security checkpoint.
Lower level: dedicated to Departures, Arrivals, baggage reclaim, and car rentals.
There are a total of 11 gates.
Billy Bishop Airport closes to the public at 11 PM and reopens at 5 AM every day. Check-in opens at 5:30 AM, so there’s no point in arriving before that for early flights.
All passengers flying to the United States will go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance. This allows these flights to arrive in the USA as if they were domestic.
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Billy Bishop Airport provides free WiFi throughout the terminal. Connect to “@BBishopAirport Free WiFi“ to use.
Other passenger services at YTZ include:
Baggage carts: Can be borrowed for free in several locations throughout the terminal and on the Mainland Pavilion at the entrance to the tunnel.
Lost & Found: For missing items, contact 1-844-846-8266 or [email protected].
Parenting stations: MyPods parenting stations that offer a private space to rest, pump, or feed are available in the lounges.
- Pet relief areas: Available both before and after Security. All are equipped with artificial grass, fire hydrants, and garbage disposals:
Outdoor, outside the Airport Terminal, south of the Curbside Assistance zone and main entrance.
Every lounge has a pet relief area after Security.
Water filling stations: available in both lounges.
Lounges at YTZ
The only space akin to a lounge in Toronto City Airport is the Aspire Air Canada Café. It is located near Gate 1, between Door A and the washrooms, in the departures area, thus only accessible to those on domestic flights.
It is open from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM. This lounge is open to all Aeroplan 50K, 75K, Super Elite status, and Star Alliance Gold members, plus one guest. It accepts Priority Pass and other similar lounge membership passes. Pay at the door is also possible.
Amenities include complimentary beverages, snacks, premium WiFi, and comfortable seating areas.
Porter Airlines also maintains what can be described as shared premium waiting areas, which are available free of charge. One such “lounge” is in each departure area - domestic and US transborder, respectively. While waiting, you can get complimentary packaged snacks and drinks such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
Dining Options at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Dining options are quite limited because of the airport’s size and location. You will have a lot more choice in downtown Toronto, just minutes away from the terminal.
If you want to pick up something to eat or have a drink, the following bistros, coffee shops, and bars are present at YTZ:
Bar OBISPO Restaurant: Located in the domestic lounge. Offer Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed setting. To-go is also possible.
Balzac’s Coffee Roasters: Located in the domestic lounge, this cafe sources its beans responsibly and its pastries locally.
Market@416: Located in the transborder lounge. Offers a great selection of coffee, grab-and-go, and dine-in meals throughout the day. Breakfast is until 11 AM.
Booster Juice: Located pre-security on the arrivals level. Prepares smoothies and freshly squeezed juices with dozens of possible ingredients.
The Aspire Air Canada Café also offers an elevated space for dining. It’s the best place to wait for your flight, especially if you are eligible for a complimentary entry.
Transport to and from the airport
The airport is practically next to the Toronto city center. You can even easily walk to most places in the downtown area within 40-60 minutes.
To get to Union Station, take the 509 Harbourfront streetcar from the Bathurst & Queens Quay West stop. It reaches Union Station in around 15 minutes. There, you can connect to GO Transit, Up Express, and VIA Rail services.
There are also complimentary shuttle buses connecting Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Toronto’s Union Station. They run every 15 minutes during the day, while there are flights from YTZ (every 25 minutes in the very early morning and late evening).
To reach Bathurst Station, take the 511 Bathurst streetcar from the Fleet Street at Bathurst Street stop.
Taxis and ride-hailing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are always available in Toronto, including at Billy Bishop Airport. The designated pick-up and drop-off zone is on Eireann Quay. The approximate fare to downtown Toronto is around 20-25 CAD.
Lastly, renting a car is possible directly at Toronto City Airport. Rental car companies with desks at the airport include Hertz, Enterprise, and National.
Parking at Toronto City Airport
Four parking facilities provide official parking options near Toronto City Airport:
P3 Priority Park on the north side of the Terminal.
Precise Park Link is also next to the Terminal, on its south side.
P1 Express Park on 4 Eireann Quay, on the mainland.
P2 Daily Park on 9 Stadium Road, on the mainland.
The valet parking drop-off point is on Ferry Queue, as you approach the entrance to the Tunnel.
Hotels near Billy Bishop Airport
Due to the downtown location of the airport, there are no on-site hotels. However, within a 10-minute drive, there are numerous hotels to choose from.
One of the closest options is the Hotel X Toronto, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel - an upscale, 5-star hotel with a full list of amenities, including on-site restaurants, a fully equipped gym, and a spa salon.
You can check out more hotels in Toronto, close to YTZ, here.
Toronto, ON, Canada
