Flying out of Toronto Pearson airport is about to get more expensive.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) today (September 28) announced it will increase the aeronautical rates and the airport improvement fee (AIF) on January 1, 2023. These increases are a result of the high inflationary environment and ongoing impacts from COVID-19. The adjustment to the AIF will put Toronto Pearson in line with the current rates charged by other airports across Canada.
Effective January 1, 2023, aeronautical rates for commercial aviation, business aircraft and general aviation aircraft will increase by 4 per cent. The AIF for departing passengers will increase by $5; whereas the fees charged for connecting passengers will increase by $1.
The impacts of the pandemic both on the global air travel industry and on Pearson have been significant, with the airport having added significant debt to its balance sheet to remain operational over the last two years.
The revenue generated will support the operation of Toronto Pearson, including:
* The installation of new inbound baggage carrousels, including the upgrade of 29,000 metres of baggage handling conveyor belts and a new robotic baggage storage and retrieval system in Terminal 3;
* More cleaning and passenger service providers to respond to rising demand for air travel;
* Renovations to airport amenities across both terminals, including a refresh of washrooms and customs clearance areas;
* A major restoration of roofing in Terminal 3;
* Refurbishing escalators and moving walkways while augmenting systems with advanced technologies, such as a pilot of autonomous vehicles;
* Doubling the investment in the annual airport asset restoration program;
* Increasing staff for maintenance and administration activities.
“Airport operations have improved significantly since the summer, but Toronto Pearson is still feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a not-for-profit entity, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we have sufficient revenues to maintain and invest in a world-class facility to provide our valued passengers with an experience that is appropriate for Canada’s largest airport,” says Deborah Flint, President and CEO, GTAA.
The improvements are welcome, but the general public – and Canadian airlines – will be less than pleased to see fees going up. The airlines will almost certainly pass their increased fees on to consumers.
