US CBP Preclearance Coming to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Enhanced Passenger Experience and Access to New US Markets Among the Benefits of New Facility
PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Billy Bishop Airport), today confirmed that US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) will be introduced at the downtown Toronto Airport. An announcement by the federal Minister of Transport, The Honourable Omar Alghabra, at Billy Bishop Airport earlier this morning confirmed that funding for the capital expenditure associated with the preclearance facility will be provided by the federal government. This important funding will enable the construction and implementation of the preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Airport which will be operational in 2025.
The facility will take between 18-24 months to complete and, once constructed, will provide Billy Bishop Airport passengers with the opportunity to clear customs in Toronto, rather than having to clear customs upon landing at US airports. Preclearance will also open up new markets to the US, as travellers can now access smaller US airports that do not currently have US CBP, and therefore cannot accept travellers that have not been precleared. There are currently 15 US CBP preclearance locations in six countries around the world including Canada. Eight Canadian airports currently offer preclearance, with Billy Bishop Airport becoming the ninth such facility.
Billy Bishop Airport is a convenient and valuable connection point between downtown Toronto and regional and hub markets in the US. The addition of preclearance will encourage bilateral trade, facilitate convenient travel for business and leisure passengers, and reinforce national security. The new facility will also offer next-generation travel technology, including facial recognition that is designed to make the process more efficient for travellers.
In today's announcement, Minister Alghabra confirmed that the federal government will provide up to $30 million towards capital funding for planning, design and construction of the preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Airport. The funding will assist PortsToronto and its partners in delivering this facility within the planned timeframe, ensuring the facility is operational in 2025. The funding will not apply to operational costs of the preclearance facility.
Billy Bishop Airport is the ninth busiest airport in Canada and the fifth busiest serving US markets. The airport traditionally welcomes approximately 450,000 US passengers per year.
The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport
"The investment in the new United States preclearance facility for the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will provide travellers in the Greater Toronto area more options when flying to the United States and will support the reduction of airport congestion. Investing in this facility is great news for the airport and for Canadians!"
RJ Steenstra, President & CEO, PortsToronto, Billy Bishop Airport Owner and Operator
"PortsToronto and its partners, including Nieuport Aviation and Porter Airlines, have been working towards securing preclearance for nearly a decade, as it will further enhance the passenger experience by offering passengers the ability to clear customs on home soil using next-generation technology intended to make the process quick and convenient," said RJ Steenstra, President & CEO, PortsToronto. "Preclearance will also provide access to more US markets which will boost connectivity and bilateral trade and tourism between Toronto and the eastern US. This will have a tremendous economic impact on the city in terms of GDP, generating jobs, and attracting talent and investment. We are incredibly pleased and proud to confirm preclearance at the airport, and look forward to working with our partners to commence work immediately to have the facility open in 2025."
Neil Pakey, CEO, Nieuport Aviation, Terminal Owner and Operator
"Preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) will contribute immensely to the convenience and seamless experiences that passengers expect," said Neil Pakey, CEO, Nieuport Aviation. "Today, YTZ provides connectivity to four U.S. destinations, but with preclearance, travellers could see that number reach 15 or more. Whether it's Bay St. to Wall St. or Yorkville to Soho, U.S. customs preclearance at Billy Bishop Airport will deepen business ties with our largest trading partner, while also boosting our visitor economy in Toronto by helping with conventions and exhibitions, hotel bookings and the nighttime economy. But the benefits expand much further than Toronto connecting Ontario and eastern Canada through our airport to critical markets in the United States. Our research shows that preclearance at Billy Bishop will stimulate $4.8 billion in economic impact, create 32,400 new jobs, and save the equivalent of $28 million in monetized time savings for passengers."