Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport launched its U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility on March 10, 2026, enabling U.S.-bound passengers to complete customs, immigration, and agriculture inspections before departure.
Canada’s Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the opening during a news conference on March 9, joined by Ontario Transport Minister Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria. The facility, first revealed in mid-2023, received up to $30 million CAD from the Canadian government for capital costs. Construction concluded in late December 2025, followed by training and testing.
This marks the ninth Canadian airport with U.S. preclearance operations, joining Toronto Pearson, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, and Winnipeg. Billy Bishop, a downtown turboprop hub owned by Toronto Port Authority, handles about 450,000 U.S. passengers annually.
Passengers check in, clear Canadian security, then undergo U.S. preclearance before entering a transborder lounge. Airlines recommend arriving three hours early for U.S. flights, with check-in closing 60 minutes prior to departure. NEXUS cardholders receive expedited screening.
The project, over a decade in development, supports route expansions by Porter Airlines and Air Canada to U.S. destinations lacking CBP staff, including smaller cities. Updated Preclearance in Canada Regulations, effective March 10, introduce security screening for preclearance area access, denying entry to those with relevant criminal records.
RJ Steenstra, Toronto Port Authority President and CEO, noted the facility enhances passenger experience and economic impact, potentially growing the airport’s contribution from $2.1 billion to $5.3 billion annually.