Ultimate Guide to YTZ Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
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Welcome to our guide for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, also known as the Toronto Island Airport. Read on to learn the ins and outs of this convenient travel hub.
Important Information about YTZ Billy Bishop Airport
Where is Billy Bishop Airport?
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is located at 2 Eireann Quay in Toronto. The airport is conveniently located near the downtown core at the intersection of Bathurst St. and Queens Quay, making it accessible by multiple transit routes, by car, and by foot.
The majority of the airport’s infrastructure is actually located on the Toronto Islands, which is why Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is often referred to as the Toronto Island Airport.
How do you get to Billy Bishop Airport from Union Station?
You can get to Billy Bishop Airport from Union Station a few different ways:
- car/taxi/rideshare
- public transit (TTC)
- walking (approx. 2.5 kilometres)
- bicycling
- complimentary shuttle service
Car/Taxi/Rideshare
The drive between Union Station and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport takes around 10 minutes. However, it can take longer depending on the time of day and if there are any special events in the area, so you’ll ideally want to leave some time to spare.
Public Transit
The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) runs streetcar route 509 between Union Station and Exhibition Grounds, with a stop directly next to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
You can also take the 510 streetcar to the intersection of Queens Quay and Spadina Ave. and then walk the remaining 10 minutes along the waterfront to the airport.
Walking
Thanks to Billy Bishop Airport’s convenient location, it is walkable from/to Union Station. The distance is around 2.5 kilometres, and much of this can be enjoyed along Toronto’s waterfront.
Bicycling
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has a Bike Share Toronto station right next door at Bathurst St. and Queens Quay, so you can always rent one of these bicycles and ride to the airport!
The airport also has a public area on the island-side for locking your personal bike, but keep in mind that it is not monitored and it closes when the airport is closed (between 11pm and 5am).
Complimentary Shuttle Service
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport offers a complimentary shuttle service to/from Union Station. This service is available to all passengers (just show your boarding pass), and the shuttle runs every 15 minutes or so.
You can board the shuttle at the west side of the Fairmont Royal York hotel, which is across from Union Station.
Can you walk from Union Station to Billy Bishop Airport?
You can absolutely walk from Union Station to Billy Bishop Airport!
The distance is approximately 2.5 kilometres, and you can take a route that let’s you enjoy some of Toronto’s waterfront with view of the Toronto Islands.
How do I find my way around Billy Bishop Airport?
Finding your way around Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is easy thanks to the interactive map available on the airport website. The airport is also quite small and well signed, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding your way.
Just keep in mind that the airport terminal building is on the island-side and the airport’s entrance and passenger drop-off is on the city-side. To make your way from the city-side to the island-side, you can take the elevators down from the street level and walk through the pedestrian tunnel, or you can take one of the shortest ferry rides in the world instead!
What airlines fly out of Billy Bishop Airport?
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) is primarily used by Porter Airlines and Air Canada. However, thanks to airline partnerships, you can find flights sold by other airlines (such as Air Transat, United, and Alaska Airlines) that depart from or arrive to this airport.
Do you go through US Customs at Billy Bishop Airport?
Yes, since March 2026. Billy Bishop Airport now has U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities. You clear U.S. customs and immigration in Toronto before you board, then arrive in the United States as a domestic passenger.
That includes Porter’s flights to Chicago O’Hare, which replaced its Midway service on September 1, 2026, with two daily flights in each direction, according to Porter’s October 26, 2026 news release. At O’Hare, you can connect to an American Airlines flight, Porter’s codeshare partner, to Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orange County, San Diego or Seattle.
Do you have to take a ferry to/from Billy Bishop Airport?
No, the ferry to/from Billy Bishop Airport is optional. The pedestrian tunnel connecting Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport’s land-side facilities to the island-side main terminal was opened to the public in 2015.
However, you may choose to take the scenic, 90-second ferry ride (one of the shortest ferry rides in the world!) if you’d like. It’s free and easy to board, adding a fun little adventure to your trip.
How early should I get to Billy Bishop Airport?
The airlines at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport recommend that you arrive a minimum of 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
Can you walk to Billy Bishop Airport?
Yes! There is a pedestrian tunnel that connects Billy Bishop Airport’s land-side entrance facilities with their main terminal on the island side.
To access the tunnel, simply take the elevators down and follow the signage.
Where can I park near Billy Bishop Airport?
At Billy Bishop Airport, there are 4 parking lots associated with the airport – two on the island-side and two on the city-side. You can pre-book a parking spot using the airport’s parking booking portal, or you can arrive and park before your flight (as long as there are spots remaining).
Is Billy Bishop Airport and the Toronto Island Airport the same place?
Yes, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is often referred to as the Toronto Island Airport because of it’s location at the west end the Toronto Islands.
How do I pick someone up at Billy Bishop Airport?
Passenger pick-up and drop-off at Billy Bishop Airport is located next to their city-side building at 2 Eireann Quay. There are a few complimentary parking spots where you can wait for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Vehicles are also allowed to take the ferry across to pick-up or drop-off directly at the terminal. This option is subject to a ferry fee and potentially a parking fee.
Hotels Near Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ)
Given the downtown Toronto location of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, there are lots of convenient, nearby hotels and accommodation options to choose from. This is especially true thanks to the complimentary shuttle service between the airport and Union Station/the Fairmont Royal York.
We have a few hotels that we’ve enjoyed and written reviews of in the past, so feel free to check those out first. As Marriott properties, each of these locations lets you earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points:
Here are a number of additional hotel options that are either near Billy Bishop Airport or near Union Station, and some, like the Hilton brand hotels, also letting you collect and redeem loyalty points.
- Hotel X Toronto
- Fairmont Royal York
- 1 Hotel Toronto
- Radisson Blue Toronto Downtown
- Hilton Toronto Downtown
- DoubleTree by Hilton Toronto Downtown
- Revery Toronto
- Sonder by Marriott (multiple locations downtown)
- Intercontinental Toronto Centre
Car Rentals Near Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ)
If you need to rent a car near Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Hertz and Enterprise/National are both conveniently located directly next to the airport.
For further assistance, tips, and ways to save with your future car rentals, check out the following guides:
Lounges at Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ)
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is home to the Aspire /Air Canada Cafe.
This lounge is available to all passengers through the following access methods:
- Priority Pass
- DragonPass
- eligible American Express credit cards
- Air Canada customers with 50K, 75K, or Super Elite Status
- travellers with Star Alliance Gold status
- travellers holding a premium Aeroplan co-branded credit card
- travellers connecting to a business class ticket
You can also pay to access the lounge through the Aspire Lounge’s website.
According to Aspire (page checked on October 26, 2026), the Aspire Air Canada Café is for domestic flights only and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is open to all passengers who pay for entry, and it accepts Priority Pass, DragonPass and DreamFolks members, among others.
Air Canada lists the Aspire Air Canada Café at Billy Bishop among its Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés. According to its official pages (checked on October 26, 2026), these spaces welcome Business Class customers, Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite members, Star Alliance Gold members and select Aeroplan credit cardholders. On the American Express side, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card and the Aeroplan Business Reserve Card give access to Air Canada Cafés with a same-day ticket on an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight (americanexpress.com, checked on October 26, 2026).
The airport’s website also features the Desjardins Lounge, set up with Desjardins Group in the domestic departures area. Desjardins and Nieuport Aviation, the terminal operator, announced the redesign of this domestic waiting area on May 12, 2026, and it has been open to passengers since then (billybishopairport.com and desjardins.com, checked on October 26, 2026). For more details, read our article on the Billy Bishop Desjardins Lounge.
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