Travelers flying in or out of Ontario will likely use either Toronto – Lester B Pearson (YYZ) or Ottawa International (YOE) airport. These are the 2 major international airports servicing most countries and providing connections to regional cities throughout the province. There are other options such as Toronto City Centre (YTZ) or the Island airport as it commonly referred to, Hamilton – John C Munro International (YHM) and London International (YXU). While these are less crowded and easier to navigate, they have limited carriers and flights available. Interprovincial travel is well connected and serviced by domestic and regional airlines such as Air Canada, WestJet, Porter and Bearskin airlines, which primarily services northern Ontario. The cities of Windsor, Waterloo, North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay all have excellent regional airports and are easily accessible. These smaller airports will typically have a select few car rental agencies, snack shop or restaurant and a convenience store.
Toronto – Lester B Pearson (YYZ)
Located approximately 30 minutes north/west from Downtown Toronto, the airport is well situated to provide easy access out of the city and to downtown during off peak times. If you are travelling during typical rush hour – morning and after work – you should allow for a minimum of 1-hour travel from downtown, although this could be considerable longer depending on traffic conditions.
Pearson International is Canada’s largest airport and is a world-class facility handling over 30 million passengers annually and 85,000 visitors daily. There are a total of 3 terminals at Pearson and they handle domestic, U.S. and international flights. Shopping is plentiful with a large selection of over 90 restaurants, specialty shops and duty free shopping. There are also many on-site services, including car rentals, currency exchange and even spas.
There are a number of parking options available, from two parking garages offering short and long-term parking, valet parking, the link train and discount parking just outside the terminals. The LINK Train offers very easy transportation between Terminal 1, Terminal 3, Sheraton Gateway Hotel and at Viscount Station, which offers reduced rate parking. The train runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is wheelchair accessible. Alternatively another good parking option is Park’N Fly, which offers a choice of valet, self-park or economy rates.
All major Car Rental Companies are located at the terminal. Taxi and Limousine services are available along with Public Transportation to the Greater Toronto Area.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport (YTZ)
Located at the end of Bathurst Street on the Toronto Islands, the Toronto City Centre airport is only 10 minutes from downtown. Porter Airlines offers a shuttle service that runs every 15 minutes from The Fairmont Royal York Hotel (across the street from Union Station) to the airport ferry terminal. From there it’s just a jump across the canal to the terminal. There are a number of different options to access the airport ferryboat service to the terminal: taxis, TTC (Toronto transit commission) and Go Transit all offer various methods of transport from buses, subways and trains.
Porter Airlines is the lone carrier (other than commercial) flying from this airport. Amenities such as restaurants, shopping, car rentals, etc., are limited. However the Porter lounge is exceptionally is outstanding. It offers quick baggage check-in, a comfortable waiting area, Internet access, and basic snacks and beverages—an overall great experience if you are visiting Toronto city centre.
Parking is available at some lots in the area but is very limited. We would recommend parking downtown and utilizing the Porter shuttle bus, taxi or public transport.
Ottawa International (YOE)
Located just 20 minutes south of downtown, the Ottawa Airport is well positioned and has very easy road access. Across from the terminal is a parking garage, which is also where you will find the car rental companies. There is a substantial amount of services such as retail stores, restaurants, coffee shops, ATM’s and currency exchange.
There are many choices for ground transportation such as Taxi and limousine services, although it’s prudent to schedule a pick up in advance. A hotel shuttle operates from about 5am to 12pm, providing ground transportation to a variety of hotels in the greater Ottawa area. Otherwise public transportation runs from the arrivals level 1. You can purchase tickets at the ground transportation desk.
London International Airport (YXU)
Located about 20 minutes east of the London city centre, the airport provides easy access to both the city and to Highway 401, which is the main highway that connects cities in the southern Ontario corridor. The airport is ideally positioned for anyone requiring access to south/western Ontario. In addition to being serviced by regional airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet, there are a number of tour operators such as Sunwing, Sunquest and Transat Holidays who offer flights and packages.
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