An all-new customs pre-clearance facility will soon open in Toronto to make things easier for travelers heading to the US. The facility is well underway and is scheduled to open next year.
PortsToronto announced the new border checkpoint for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in summer 2023, releasing sleek interior designs for the space just weeks later.
But a year and a half after the big announcement, frequent flyers may be wondering about the status of the upcoming feature.
PortsToronto, the owner and operator of the island hub, said those involved conducted a tour of the pre-clearance area last week, indicating that things are indeed progressing well.
Earlier this week, members of the @PortsToronto and @Nieuport boards of directors, as well as executives from both organizations, were able to get a first-hand look at the progress being made at @BBishopAirport's upcoming US @CBP preclearance facility.
The expansion of US preclearance… pic.twitter.com/BO1tKPs93S
— PortsToronto (@PortsToronto) December 6, 2024
The agency emphasized that the expansion will “not only enhance the passenger experience at YTZ by allowing passengers to clear customs on home soil, but also open up new U.S. markets, promote economic growth, create jobs, boost tourism, and improve trade and security.” “between the USA and Canada” in an X article on Friday.
PortsToronto sent additional photos of the final stages of construction to blogTO on Wednesday, along with a more detailed update on how things are progressing.
PortsToronto
Teams from Pomerleau and Alstef Canada – construction firms tapped for the project this May – have been hard at work preparing the skeleton of the area, which is scheduled to open in late 2025. It appears there will be some demolition, framing, insulation and wiring required. Work is well underway and will be nearing completion in the coming months.
Back in September, officials from both countries met in Billy Bishop to “reaffirm their commitment” to expanding the facility and thereby providing more U.S. flights from the downtown airport in the future.
Once the checkpoint is complete, Billy Bishop will be able to add new flight routes to up to 10 U.S. cities — a boon for an airport that is already Canada's fifth-busiest airport for American travel.
“Confident in the steps taken, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is now including Billy Bishop in personnel and resource allocation planning and decisions,” a news release from that meeting said, adding that “progress is moving in the right direction.”
PortsToronto
As of Dec. 10, a PortsToronto spokesperson estimates the facility is 35 percent complete and remains on schedule.
By the time it becomes operational, the airport is expected to bring in an additional $65 million in local tax revenue per year, create approximately 1,600 more jobs and increase the airport's overall economic contribution to a whopping $5.3 billion per year.
PortsToronto
The expansion was made possible with $30 million in funding from Ottawa and comes at a time when some are still calling for the island property to be used for something else.
Billy Bishop is also adding new Runway End Safety Areas (RESAs) through 2027 to comply with new federal regulations, which led to the operator asking the city for an early lease extension so it could seek outside financing to cover costs who could secure extensions.
The council approved necessary land area expansions for the RESAs in October and also agreed to renegotiate the tripartite agreement for the land to allow for a conditional longer-term lease through the end of 2045 and “ensure ongoing and future operations” at the airfield.