U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance Coming to Downtown Toronto City Airport
U.S. Customs pre-clearance is finally coming to the Toronto Island/City Airport.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra today announce a federal government investment of up to $30 million to build a new preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for United States-bound travellers. The new facility will build capacity for Toronto’s growing business and leisure passenger volumes transiting through Canada’s largest city.
The centre is expected to take 18-24 months to complete and should open sometime in 2025.
Eight Canadian airports currently offer preclearance, with Billy Bishop Airport becoming the ninth such facility.
Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport.
“Fast and secure movement of people and goods across the United States border is key to boosting tourism, business, and trade,” officials said. “The Government of Canada’s contribution builds on investments made by PortsToronto, and the new preclearance facility will provide important benefits to Canadians and the air sector by:
increasing security and connectivity for business and leisure travellers using the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport;
reducing airport congestion and transportation bottlenecks by increasing Canada’s complement of airport pre-clearance facilities; and
improving fluidity and capacity in the transportation system.”
BIG BOOST FOR TRAVELERS
Passengers flying out of Toronto City Airport currently must line up for U.S. customs in their destination, which is often a time-consuming procedure.
“The investment in the new United States preclearance facility for the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) 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,” Alghabra said.
