U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance opens at Billy Bishop Airport unlocking new routes for Porter Airlines, Air Canada

March 10, 2026 Team Contibutor

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport today officially opened its U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility, marking a new era of convenience and connectivity for travellers flying to the United States from Toronto’s downtown airport. With Preclearance now in operation, U.S.-bound passengers can complete Customs, Immigration and Agriculture inspections in Canada before takeoff, eliminating the need to clear CBP at their U.S. destination.

Beyond simplifying the journey, Preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will be a catalyst for regional growth, opening the door for more transborder routes, strengthening tourism and trade, and amplifying the airport’s contribution to the economy. Even before today’s official opening, Preclearance has been foundational to recent airline announcements by Air Canada and Porter Airlines relating to new U.S. routes coming soon to the airport.

Canadian travel expert John Kirk said the development has been years in the making.

“This has been in the works for several years, alongside the airport expansion and the potential introduction of jet service. It opens the door to new routes into the United States, which is good news for both Canadians and travellers heading to Toronto for business or leisure. Cities like Providence, Hartford, Cleveland, Columbus, New York’s LaGuardia and Washington’s Reagan National could all become viable routes. It’s a real game-changer.” said Kirk. “Local businesses and travellers stand to benefit the most from this change. More competition on these routes is badly needed because fares are currently very high. Right now, a single round-trip basic fare ticket for mid-June to Columbus OH is selling for $904 CAD, which shows just how limited the competition has been.”

“The launch of U.S. preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is a major win for Ontario’s economy—cutting border friction, expanding access to U.S. markets, and making it easier for businesses to compete and grow. The Ontario Chamber supports investing in our key gateways, because that improves both our connectivity and our competitiveness.” added Andrew Weir, CEO, Destination Toronto

“Today marks a defining milestone for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and for the passengers and markets we proudly serve,” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, Toronto Port Authority, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “For nearly 90 years, this airport has linked Toronto and the region to tourism, trade and business, earning recognition as one of North America’s best airports. With the opening of the U.S. Preclearance facility, we will further enhance convenience, strengthen security and create new opportunities for connection. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is more than a gateway for travellers; it is an engine of economic growth, driving jobs, investment and the connectivity that keeps communities and businesses thriving. The introduction of U.S. Preclearance further fuels this engine and entrenches the value of this airport to the region and Canada overall.”

“The new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is a transformational project that has been over a decade in the making,” said Jennifer Quinn, CEO, Nieuport Aviation, the terminal partner at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “Preclearance may sound like a process upgrade, but it is far more than that—it’s an investment in the region’s future. By clearing U.S. Customs in Canada, we’re making travel to the U.S. more convenient, unlocking new routes, facilitating more connections to and from Toronto and growing the economy through visitor spend and job creation. This milestone reflects the power of partnership and the confidence we have in the incredible potential of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to connect people to opportunity and to catalyze growth.”

Today’s opening is the result of strong collaboration among the Government of Canada, which supported the project through a $30 million investment; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. CBP; the Toronto Port Authority; Nieuport Aviation; and a host of partners, each of whom played a vital role in helping to realize the vision of a more connected Toronto, Ontario and Canada.