Toronto Pearson reveals new Terminal 3

Politicians, executives, airport employees and passengers gathered on June 18 to witness the grand reopening of Toronto Pearson International Airport’s redesigned pier in Terminal 3.

The pier measures 80,000 sq. ft., cost $25 million to complete, and is only part of Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 3 Enhancement Project, which is estimated to be completed in 2017 at a cost of approximately $140 million. The new space, which features five bridge gates, four walkouts, and a variety of Canadian-owned shops and eateries, has been two years in the making, according to Pat Neville, vice-president of airport planning and technical services.

“This facility closed six years ago during the economic downturn as a result of reduction in air travel," he said. "[Two years ago,] as we looked at passenger growth numbers, we knew it was time to bring this part of the terminal back online.”

Toronto Pearson saw nearly 39 million passengers pass through its gates in 2014 – a number that is anticipated to grow to 60 million by 2030. The Terminal 3 Enhancement project is meant to prepare the international hub for this influx.

“We have great infrastructure here and a great foundation to support our predicted growth,” Neville told PAX. “This project will allow for growth in domestic travel, international arrivals, and better connectivity overall.”

YYZ’s reach extends to 30 Canadian cities, 48 cities within the U.S., and 99 international destinations. The airport serves more international travellers than any other hub in North America, with the exception of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Present for the event was Deputy Mayor Vincent Crisanti, who took the stage to present Neville with a City of Toronto scroll, and commended the Greater Toronto Airport Authority for its work in supporting employment in the GTA.

“The revitalization of Terminal 3 will result in significant and positive impacts for passengers as well as employees,” Crisanti said. “Today, more than 40,000 people work at this airport. By 2030, the airport could support close to 500,000 jobs.”

At present, the Terminal 3 pier is home solely to WestJet, due in part to the size and scale of the carrier's operations out of Toronto, Neville said. The new pieris expected to support travel for approximately 2.9 million of the airline’s customers this year.

The new space was designed with an emphasis on Canadian culture, and includes interior design and sculptures from Canadian First Nations artists, along with well-known retail businesses such as the Drake General Store (due to open later in 2015), the Distillery District Brew Pub and appropriately, Tim Hortons.