What is it with Canada and their 300 different names for their airports? The Toronto International Airport, or the Lester B Pearson International Airport, or Pearson Airport, or Toronto Pearson Airport, or Toronto Pearson International Airport, whatever you want to call it, at least one thing doesn't change and that's the IATA code which is YYZ.
The airport is located some 22.5 kilometres from the city of Toronto, and just across the ways from the city of Mississauga. The airport serves not only the city of Toronto, but also the Greater Ontario area nicknamed the Golden Horseshoe. It was given it name in memorial of the 14th Prime Minister of Canada, Lester B Pearson.
Being the busiest airport in Canada, it handles over 36 million passengers, and nearly half a million aircraft take-offs and landings. Now that's busier than a one armed paper hanger! Not only is the Toronto International Airport one of the major gateways into North America, but is the second busiest airport in North America after JFK International Airport.
It is the major hub for cargo company FedEx, and passenger carriers Air Canada, Air Transat and Sunwing Airlines. In sum total, there are 75 airlines that operate out of the airport. It is also one of the only eight airports in Canada with preclearance arrangements in place with US Immigration. In addition it offers direct scheduled flights to all of the world's six inhabited continents.
In short the one word to describe the airport is massive. There are in essence two terminals, and both of them are massive. But don't worry, there is absolutely everything you could possibly need available at this massive airport.