May 6, 2026
Toronto's tourism sector is a powerhouse, but it faces a persistent hurdle: friction. For international business travellers and high-spending convention-goers, the journey isn't over when the plane lands at Pearson. The "last mile" — navigating traffic to reach the downtown core — is a deterrent that causes Toronto to lose lucrative events to rival cities.
The popularity of "frictionless" travel
While residents are divided on the environmental impact, the latest Liaison Strategies poll highlights that convenience is the strongest argument in favour of airport expansion. For the 46% of Torontonians who support the move, the primary appeal is the ease of access.
This public sentiment aligns with a broader economic reality: in a global market, "frictionless" destinations win. By allowing direct, jet-powered access to the foot of the Financial District, Toronto transforms into a more competitive product for the global event industry.
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Boosting the service economy's bottomline
The push to allow jets at Billy Bishop is a strategic move to capture the "downstream" economic impact that standard tourism often misses. "With an upgraded airport on the waterfront, Toronto and Ontario will be able to compete with world-class cities across the globe, supporting tourism and business travel," Premier Doug Ford noted during the March 2026 announcement.
This isn't just about airline revenue; it’s about filling hotel beds, restaurant tables and convention halls. Data from the Toronto Port Authority indicates that the airport already contributes $1.8 billion in economic output annually. Expansion is projected to skyrocket that contribution to $8.5 billion by 2050.
Delivering "high-velocity" tourists
The jet expansion translates to a steady stream of "high-velocity" tourists into the downtown core of the city. These are travellers who:
- Spend more in the local service sector
- Have more time to explore the city because they spent less time in transit
- Prioritize proximity to the Financial District and Entertainment District
"Cities grow by strengthening the connections that power their economies," said Giles Gherson, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade in a statement(1).
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A revenue engine at the city's doorstep
Even Mark Carney, who was once the head of the Bank of England, has weighed in on the vision, noting the importance of infrastructure that supports global connectivity. For Toronto's service economy, a jet-enabled airport isn't just a transport hub; it's a revenue engine.
As the province moves toward its goal of "unlocking Billy Bishop's full potential," the city is betting that removing travel friction will bring the world's wallets directly to Toronto's doorstep— transforming the waterfront from a point of contention into a primary driver of the service sector's growth.
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Government of Ontario (1)
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Leslie Kennedy served as an editor at Thomson Reuters and for Star Media Group, followed by a number of years as a writer and editor and content manager in marketing communications, before returning to her editorial roots. She is a graduate of Humber College’s post-graduate journalism program and has been a professional writer and editor ever since.
