Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is owned and operated by PortsToronto and offers services to more than 20 destinations in Canada and the US, has confirmed that it is introducing US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The facility will be operational in 2025.
Up to $30 million in funding for the capital expenditure associated with the construction and implementation of the preclearance facility will be provided by the federal government.
The facility, which will offer next-generation travel technology including facial recognition, will provide passengers travelling through the air transport hub 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 passengers will now be able to access smaller US hubs that do not currently have US CBP in place 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 the ninth such facility.
With Billy Bishop offering a convenient and valuable connection point between downtown Toronto and regional and hub markets across the US, the addition of preclearance will encourage bilateral trade and reinforce national security.
Neil Pakey, CEO, Nieuport Aviation, Terminal Operator and Owner, said the preclearance facility will contribute immensely to the convenience and seamless experience for those travelling through the airport.
“Today [the airport] provides connectivity to four US 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, US 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 US. Our research shows that preclearance will stimulate $4.8 billion in economic impact, create 32,400 new jobs and save the equivalent of £28 million in monetised time savings for passengers.”
