Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) sits on an island in Lake Ontario, just minutes from downtown Toronto hotels and attractions. This small, waterside airport is the antithesis of the sprawling Pearson International Airport (YYZ) 14 miles northwest of downtown.
Most routes at YTZ are handled by Porter Airlines, serving a variety of short-haul eastern Canadian locations and key American cities. Porter operates De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops to destinations like Chicago, with specific routes varying by season and schedule. Air Canada also operates routes to Montreal and Ottawa, with additional frequencies announced recently.
So if you’re flying into the 6ix, here are a few of my tried-and-true tips on how to navigate this handy little airport.
Getting to and from YTZ by public transportation
The airport sits on an island, so you’ll need to cross to the mainland via ferry or pedestrian tunnel. The ferry makes the 121-meter (about 400-foot) journey in approximately 90 seconds, while the pedestrian tunnel takes less than six minutes to walk, aided by four moving walkways.
I recommend the tunnel if you’re traveling light, but the ferry is better with heavier luggage.
YTZ sits just off Eireann Quay at the bottom of Bathurst Street, where the ferry terminal is located. Within walking distance, you can catch the 509 Harbourfront or 511 Bathurst TTC streetcars, which connect with the subway system. The 509 operates between Union Station and Exhibition Loop, taking you directly to the city’s main hub in the heart of downtown where many significant hotels are nearby.
The airport also runs a complimentary shuttle bus service to the Fairmont Royal York hotel (across from Union Station) approximately every 15 minutes, though service can run at 25-minute intervals during early morning and late evening hours. This can be a convenient option if that part of downtown is your final stop. Some hotels also offer their own airport transfer service, so it’s worth checking with them when you book.
Getting to and from YTZ by car
Eireann Quay is a small dead end, which makes ordering a taxi fairly simple once you’re out of the main pavilion. It’s a straightforward process, unlike the chaos at Pearson.
Toronto’s downtown is quite a sprawling affair. In my opinion, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are a better option than public transit if your hotel is somewhere like Yorkville or you’ve booked an Airbnb in a vibrant neighborhood like The Annex or Little Italy.
If you’re looking to rent a car, you’ll see the Hertz counter just after the baggage area. I’d only recommend this if you’re planning a road trip to somewhere like Niagara Falls, though. Toronto isn’t the most car-friendly city and its public transportation is (usually) pretty good.
Arriving at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
My favorite thing about YTZ is its location on Lake Ontario. Here’s an insider tip: when booking, try to pick a window seat on the left side of the plane for the best skyline views of downtown Toronto. The landing direction can change, but the left side is usually your best bet for that perfect shot.
There are only ever a handful of flights arriving per hour at YTZ and they’re all on De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops – the Tripartite Agreement prohibits commercial jets at the airport. This means the immigration line will rarely be the long, snaking beast you find at larger airports, keeping wait times generally manageable.
Finding your luggage is simple at this small airport. You shouldn’t have to wait long for bags to be delivered once you’re through immigration.
Check-in and security
After walking through the pedestrian tunnel, you’ll take escalators or elevators (six elevators connect to the tunnel level, with two elevators and escalators to the island atrium) up to the airport proper. You’ll emerge into one of my favorite parts of YTZ – the departures area, with a hanging replica of Billy Bishop’s Nieuport 17 World War I fighter plane (Bishop was a Canadian WWI flying ace).
The Porter and Air Canada check-in desks are located in the terminal with operating hours from 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. It’s a fairly standard setup with separate security checkpoints for US and Canadian flights.
Both are labeled at the top of the escalator, but you might miss the signs because the skyline views through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows are pretty distracting. Security itself is fairly routine here.
Wi-Fi at the airport
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport and it’s pretty reliable. This is useful for international travelers who haven’t set up a data plan. Check with your cell provider about Canadian roaming, as many now include it in their plans, so you may not even need the Wi-Fi.
Even with good Wi-Fi, I always recommend saving your boarding pass as a PDF directly on your phone before arriving. Make sure it’s actually on your device, not in a cloud service that needs an internet connection to access. If any issues pop up, you’ll know your boarding pass is safe.
You can also find workspaces in the Aspire | Air Canada Café, including fast Wi-Fi and meeting rooms for lounge guests, though for a business-focused airport, I can’t help but feel dedicated workstations are a little obsolete. You’ll probably just use your own devices, but they’re there if you’re out of charge or can’t connect.
Shopping at YTZ
There’s a Booster Juice on the arrivals level if you need any refreshments, but be mindful of what you can take through security. I usually skip buying anything here and wait until I’m on the other side.
After security, there’s a duty-free store in the transborder departures area with all the usual suspects from high-end fragrances to special travel edition whiskies. In both departure areas, you’ll find retail shops with convenience items, gifts, souvenirs and grab-and-go food. I don’t bother buying food for the flights since they’re all short-haul routes. If I’m starving, I’ll just eat at the airport.
There are few shops here compared to Pearson, so if you’re looking for last-minute souvenirs, I’d suggest doing that shopping before you get to the airport. ATMs are available if you need Canadian cash.
Lounges and food and drink options
Food and drink options differ depending on whether you’re traveling domestically or to the US:
US-bound travelers: Market@416 is a sleek spot offering locally-inspired food with Ontario craft beers and freshly baked pastries – menu items vary throughout the day
Domestic travelers: Obispo is a tapas joint with virtually the same menu as Market@416, while Balzac’s Coffee Roasters is a fine place for a caffeine fix
Something I like about YTZ departures is that many seats and sofas have charging spots for your devices. Of course, I recommend arriving with a fully charged phone, but it never hurts to stay powered up while you browse or work.
The Aspire Air Canada Café is a recent addition and is open to all Aeroplan 50K, 75K, Super Elite status and Star Alliance Gold members with eligible itineraries, as well as Priority Pass, DragonPass and American Express members. If you’re not a member, you can buy a day pass – paid access can be pre-booked via Aspire, subject to space availability.
The entry cost might seem a bit steep at first, but it’s not bad value considering your lounge access includes food and beverages. Additional premium items or meeting rooms may incur charges. It’s a slick operation and I think it’s worth it if you have a little time to kill before your flight.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
