A new era of choice and convenience takes flight at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

March 10, 2026 (TORONTO) – Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport today officially opened its U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility, marking a new era of convenience and connectivity for travellers flying to the United States from Toronto’s downtown airport. With Preclearance now in operation, U.S.-bound passengers can complete Customs, Immigration and Agriculture inspections in Canada before takeoff, eliminating the need to clear CBP at their U.S. destination.

Beyond simplifying the journey, Preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will be a catalyst for regional growth, opening the door for more transborder routes, strengthening tourism and trade, and amplifying the airport’s contribution to the economy. Even before today’s official opening, Preclearance has been foundational to recent airline announcements by Air Canada and Porter Airlines relating to new U.S. routes coming soon to the airport.

“Today marks a defining milestone for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and for the passengers and markets we proudly serve,” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, Toronto Port Authority, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “For nearly 90 years, this airport has linked Toronto and the region to tourism, trade and business, earning recognition as one of North America’s best airports. With the opening of the U.S. Preclearance facility, we will further enhance convenience, strengthen security and create new opportunities for connection. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is more than a gateway for travellers; it is an engine of economic growth, driving jobs, investment and the connectivity that keeps communities and businesses thriving. The introduction of U.S. Preclearance further fuels this engine and entrenches the value of this airport to the region and Canada overall.”

“The new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is a transformational project that has been over a decade in the making,” said Jennifer Quinn, CEO, Nieuport Aviation, the terminal partner at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “Preclearance may sound like a process upgrade, but it is far more than that—it’s an investment in the region’s future. By clearing U.S. Customs in Canada, we’re making travel to the U.S. more convenient, unlocking new routes, facilitating more connections to and from Toronto and growing the economy through visitor spend and job creation. This milestone reflects the power of partnership and the confidence we have in the incredible potential of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to connect people to opportunity and to catalyze growth.”

Today’s opening is the result of strong collaboration among the Government of Canada, which supported the project through a $30 million investment; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. CBP; the Toronto Port Authority; Nieuport Aviation; and a host of partners, each of whom played a vital role in helping to realize the vision of a more connected Toronto, Ontario and Canada.

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“Efficient cross-border travel is essential for the Toronto region’s business community. The addition of U.S. preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will make it easier for companies to connect with partners, clients and investors across the United States, strengthening our region’s competitiveness and supporting continued economic growth. It also represents an important step in unlocking the airport’s full potential as a strategic gateway for the region’s business community.”

— Giles Gherson, President and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade

“Strong international connectivity is a critical factor when companies choose where to invest and grow. U.S. pre-clearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport enhances Toronto’s access to key American markets and reinforces the region’s position as one of North America’s most connected and competitive business hubs.”

— Stephen Lund, CEO, Toronto Global

“Toronto is a major global hub, and strong connectivity is essential to how people move in and out of our city. Adding U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport makes travel through the downtown airport even more seamless for American leisure and business travellers, our largest international market, which generated $1.6 billion in visitor spending in 2025. Improved access will help attract more of these visitors, driving economic value for Toronto’s visitor economy and strengthening the city’s competitiveness.”

— Andrew Weir, CEO, Destination Toronto

“The launch of U.S. preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is a major win for Ontario’s economy—cutting border friction, expanding access to U.S. markets, and making it easier for businesses to compete and grow. The Ontario Chamber supports investing in our key gateways, because that improves both our connectivity and our competitiveness.”

— Daniel Tisch, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

“The opening of a new preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is welcome news for Canada’s business, entrepreneur, government and leisure travellers. As Canada’s largest business association, we at the Canadian Chamber are glad to see air travel becoming smoother and speedier, helping to drive our economy forward. Preclearance is a critical tool that will enable more seamless travel to key destinations, reduce congestion, improve reliability and deliver a more efficient cross-border experience. Congratulations to the Toronto Port Authority, Nieuport Aviation and the entire team at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and all those who will benefit from this.”[RW1] 

— Candace Laing, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

"The opening of the preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is welcome news not just for Torontonians but travelers on both sides of the border. This is an important step that will make travel more convenient, strengthen our cross-border connectivity, and enhance the security that underpins our bilateral travel system. Preclearance at Billy Bishop will help colleagues, friends and family across the border stay more connected while ensuring a safe and efficient travel experience.”

— Beth Burke, CEO, Canadian American Business Council

“Congratulations to the team at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for your heroic efforts to bring the new preclearance facility to life. Your dedicated collaboration with government officials in the US and Canada has created an innovative model of passenger preclearance that will become the gold standard for preclearance sites in Canada, the United States, and around the world.”

— Dr. Laura Dawson, Executive Director, Canada-US Future Borders Coalition

Media contacts

Claire Pfeiffer
Senior Manager, Communications
Toronto Port Authority
cpfeiffer@torontoportauthority.com

Ryan White
Senior Manager, Communications and Community Programs
Nieuport Aviation
ryan.white@nieuport.com