Airports in Ontario

Airports in Ontario
Kooma · Public domain · source
Name	Airports in Ontario
Caption	Aerial view of Toronto Pearson International Airport
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario

Airports in Ontario

Ontario hosts a dense network of civil, regional, seaplane, and military aerodromes that connect Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, and Windsor with domestic and international markets and link communities across the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay corridors. The province's aviation infrastructure serves carriers such as Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Sunwing Airlines, and Flair Airlines, while supporting cargo operators like FedEx, UPS Airlines, and Cargojet. Ontario airports intersect with national bodies including Nav Canada, Transport Canada, and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

Overview

Ontario's airport system grew from early aerodromes linked to pioneers like Billy Bishop and developments during the First World War and Second World War that established airfields near Trenton, North Bay, and Hamilton. Modernization accelerated during the postwar era with investments tied to events such as the Expo 67 era boom and the expansion of transcontinental routes by Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada). Airports in the province operate under regulations from Transport Canada and air traffic services provided by Nav Canada, while many are owned or managed by local authorities including the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and municipal corporations in Kingston, London, and Windsor.

Major Commercial Airports

The largest hub is Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), a primary base for Air Canada and a gateway for international traffic to United States, United Kingdom, China, and India. Other major commercial airports include Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, named for John A. Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier; Hamilton International Airport serving cargo carriers like FedEx and low-cost passenger services; Thunder Bay International Airport connecting northern Ontario; London International Airport as a regional hub; and Windsor International Airport facilitating cross-border travel to the Detroit metropolitan area. These airports host alliances with global carriers such as Lufthansa, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and British Airways and are nodes on routes coordinated with air navigation centers like Toronto Centre.

Regional and Municipal Airports

A network of regional aerodromes supports provincial connectivity: Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (operated by PortsToronto) links downtown Toronto with short-haul routes; Sault Ste. Marie Airport and North Bay/Jack Garland Airport serve northern communities; Timmins Victor M. Power Airport and Kenora Airport provide access to remote resource regions. Municipal airports in Sudbury, Pickle Lake, Dryden, Fort Frances, Bracebridge Municipal Airport and Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport accommodate general aviation, medevac services linked to Ontario Provincial Police air units and health networks like Ontario Health. Smaller aerodromes include Moosonee Airport and Chapleau Airport, often connected to regional carriers such as Wasaya Airways and North Star Air.

Water and Seaplane Bases

Ontario's extensive shoreline on the Great Lakes and myriad inland lakes sustain seaplane operations at bases like Toronto Islands Water Aerodrome, Kenora Water Aerodrome, and Red Lake Water Aerodrome. Operators such as Harbour Air and charter services link remote lodges in Algonquin Provincial Park, Muskoka, and the Kenora District with floatplanes and amphibious aircraft, supporting tourism, fishing camps, and First Nations communities including Nipissing First Nation and Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve. Seasonal floatplane routes complement lakeside marinas and ferry networks around Manitoulin Island and Georgian Bay.

Military and Government Airfields

Ontario hosts key military airfields and government-operated aerodromes including CFB Trenton (4 Wing Trenton), historically central to Royal Canadian Air Force strategic airlift and search-and-rescue operations, and 41 Wing CFB Cold Lake operations linkages. Other military and government facilities include CFB North Bay (air defence and NORAD-related functions) and training fields near Meaford and Borden (home to Canadian Forces Base Borden and training schools). Provincial and federal agencies operate airstrips for conservation and enforcement missions, collaborating with organizations like the Canadian Wildlife Service and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for aerial surveys and wildfire suppression.

Airport Operations and Infrastructure

Runway and terminal capacity at major sites like Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport integrates instrument landing systems (ILS), satellite navigation including GNSS approaches, and modern cargo facilities used by Cargojet and express carriers. Ground access includes rail links such as the UP Express connecting Union Station, Toronto to Pearson, highway corridors like Highway 401 and Queen Elizabeth Way, and intermodal freight yards tied to Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. Air traffic services are coordinated through centers operated by Nav Canada, and security operations interface with Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local police services.

Passenger and Cargo Statistics

Annual passenger volumes concentrate at Toronto Pearson International Airport, which handles tens of millions of passengers annually and competes with major North American hubs served by alliances including Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. Other airports such as Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Hamilton International Airport, and London International Airport report multimillion and six-figure annual passenger counts respectively. Cargo throughput includes significant tonnage at Toronto Pearson, Hamilton International Airport, and CFB Trenton for military logistics, with operators like FedEx, UPS Airlines, Cargojet, and Amazon Air contributing to air freight growth tied to e-commerce and cross-border trade with United States markets.

Category:Aviation in Ontario