Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Team Celebrated during National Airport Workers Day
Today, PortsToronto and Nieuport Aviation came together to celebrate the second National Airport Workers Day, an initiative of the Canadian Airports Council to recognize airport workers and the vital work they do to keep Canada moving. Employees and leaders gathered in the passenger terminal of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for a special ceremony dedicated to appreciating the more than 2,000 people employed at the airport and their contributions to our economy and communities.
We were also proud to present the Canadian Airports Council’s National Airport Workers Day Award for “Airport Innovator” to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport’s Zaina Alhillou (pictured). Throughout her six years working at the airport with terminal partner Nieuport Aviation, Zaina has consistently delivered large-scale projects with exceptional precision and efficiency. From leading the $50-million terminal upgrade completed in 2018 to being Nieuport’s lead on the forthcoming US CBP preclearance facility, her contributions have already left a lasting and meaningful impact on the airport and the passenger experience.
In a country as vast as Canada, air transportation connects people across the country to the communities, goods and services they need to thrive. The Canadian Airport Council estimates that more than 150 million passengers will travel through Canada’s airports in 2025, creating 200,000 direct airport jobs. Airport workers are the backbone of this sector, and ensure the safety and security of passengers, cargo, and aircraft across thousands of operational touchpoints every day. National Airport Workers Day is a chance to applaud these efforts and showcase the many careers that propel the industry.
Operating an airport welcoming more than two million passengers a year is complex. Every day, airport workers at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport handle a vast range of responsibilities, mostly behind the scenes. The care our airport employees take in coordinating operations, ensuring safety and providing an excellent passenger experience to the highest standards possible is outstanding. Our team truly cares about making this airport among the best in the world and today we recognize this commitment.
Thank you to everyone at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and at airports across Canada for their dedication and passion. The award-winning passenger experience that travellers have come to expect from YTZ is a direct result of the hard work and commitment the entire team brings to the airport day in and day out. I’d also like to congratulate Zaina Alhillou for being recognized with an Airport Innovator award. We are incredibly proud to see her recognized for the impact she’s made.
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Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an award-winning gateway to Canada’s largest city, offering unmatched convenience just minutes from downtown Toronto. Serving passengers since 1939, the airport provides service to more than 20 cities across Canada and the U.S., with connections to more than 100 global destinations through its airline partners, and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility opening soon.
Renowned for its accessibility, stunning skyline views and 98% passenger satisfaction rating, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport supports critical regional services, including medical travel and medevac operations through Ornge. It is also a key economic driver, supporting more than 4,000 jobs (2,000 directly associated with its operations) and generating approximately $2 billion annually for the regional economy.
Committed to sustainability, the airport is a three-time recipient of the Airports Council International–North America’s Environmental Achievement Award and is certified under Level 1 Airport Carbon Accreditation.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is owned and operated by PortsToronto. Nieuport Aviation is the terminal partner and operates the airport’s complimentary shuttle service to and from downtown Toronto.