Securing the Long-Term Future of Billy Bishop Airport

We have come together through this open letter to express our collective support for the long-term future of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Recognizing the critical role that Billy Bishop Airport plays in facilitating travel, supporting economic growth, supporting life-saving medical access and connecting communities, we believe it is essential to advocate for its sustained operation and development. 

Billy Bishop Airport is a vital asset for businesses and travelers. Its strategic location in downtown Toronto not only provides convenient access to the city’s financial, business, visitor and cultural districts, but also serves as a gateway for regional and international travel. The airport’s unique proximity to key economic centers and its efficient operations contribute significantly to the competitiveness and productivity of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the businesses that operate here and their employees. 

Representing a diverse range of industries, sectors, and communities, the importance of this reliable and efficient transportation hub cannot be understated. The time is now for all levels of government to collaborate and agree to a long-term future for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

82%

of Torontonians believe Billy Bishop Airport is a good use of land. 

$2.1B

growing to $5.3 Billion in annual economic output.

87%

of Torontonians believe it makes sense for the city to have an airport downtown. 

20

direct

connections

and 80+ indirect.

9th

busiest airport in Canada, 5th busiest Canada-US air crossing and future home of US preclearance. 

85

years

connecting people where they want to be & the medical services they require. 

Signed,

  • Giles Gherson,

    President & CEO
    Toronto Region Board of Trade

  • Stephen Lund,

    CEO
    Toronto Global

  • Andrew Weir,

    President & CEO
    Destination Toronto

  • Sara Anghel,

    President & CEO,
    Greater Toronto Hotels Association

  • Craig McLuckie,

    President
    Toronto Industry Network

  • John Kiru,

    Executive Director
    Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas

  • Tim Kocur,

    Executive Director
    Waterfront BIA

  • Grant Humes,

    Executive Director
    Toronto Financial District BIA

  • Michael Phan,

    Chairperson
    Wexford Heights BIA

  • Jesse Topliffe,

    Chair
    CityPlace and Fort York BIA

  • Ron Pellerine,

    Interim President & CEO
    Metro Toronto Convention Centre

  • Don Boyle,

    CEO
    Exhibition Place

  • Frank McKenna,

    Deputy Chair
    TD Bank Financial Group

  • Guled Warsame,

    President
    UNITE HERE Local 75

  • Mike Scott,

    Vice President
    Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers

  • Larry Tanenbaum,

    Chairperson & CEO
    Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited.

  • Eddie Mariconda,

    President
    Toronto Civic Employees' Union, Local 416

  • Joseph S. Mancinelli,

    Canadian Director, International Vice President
    LiUNA

  • John Thomas,

    CEO
    Connect Airlines

  • Eric Edmondson,

    CEO
    Pivot Airlines

  • Michael Deluce,

    CEO
    Porter Airlines

  • Ronald Cohn,

    President & CEO
    Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

  • Brian Chafe,

    CEO
    De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited

  • Tim Rutledge,

    President & CEO
    Unity Health Toronto

  • Jennifer Barnard,

    President & CEO
    SickKids Foundation

  • Mark Rubinstein,

    Chief Hope Officer
    Hope Air

  • Marguerite Pyron,

    CEO
    Broad Reach Canada

  • Jeremy Diamond,

    CEO
    Royal Canadian Air Force Foundation

  • Lisa Raitt,

    Former Minister of Transport

  • Perrin Beatty,

    President & CEO
    Canadian Chamber of Commerce

  • Daniel Tisch,

    President & CEO
    Ontario Chamber of Commerce

  • Matthew Shoemaker,

    Mayor
    City of Sault Ste. Marie

  • Carolyn Vesely,

    Executive Director
    The Power Plant

  • Cathy Loblaw,

    CEO
    Harbourfront Centre

  • Dennis Darby,

    President and CEO
    Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

  • Monette Pasher,

    President
    Canadian Airport Council

  • Terry Bos, AAE,

    President and CEO
    Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation

  • Giovanna Verrilli,

    Chief Executive Officer
    Sudbury Airport Community Development Corporation

  • Mark Galvin,

    President & Chief Executive Officer
    Your Quick Gateway (Windsor) Inc.
    Windsor International Airport

  • Graham Ingham,

    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Thunder Bay International Airports Authority Inc.

  • Natasha Gagnon,

    CEO
    Ontario Aerospace Council

  • Andrew Siegwart,

    President & CEO
    Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)

  • Rebecca Mackenzie,

    President & CEO
    Culinary Tourism Alliance

  • David MacLachlan,

    Executive Director
    Destination Northern Ontario

  • Michael Crockatt,

    President & CEO
    Ottawa Tourism

  • Kerri King,

    Executive Director
    Resorts of Ontario

  • Laura Dawson,

    Executive Director
    Future Border Coalition

  • Mark Fisher,

    CEO
    Council of the Great Lakes Region

  • Doug Bryce,

    National Managing Partner
    Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

  • James Fraser,

    Vice President and Managing Director
    Company 3

  • Christa Tazzeo Morrison,

    Executive VFX Producer
    Rocket Science VFX

  • Adam Adamou,

    CEO
    OverActive Media

  • Magali Simard,

    Director Industry Relations & Community Relations
    Cinespace Studios

  • Raly Chakarova,

    Executive Director
    Toronto and Area Road Builders Association

  • Dr. Gervan Fearon,

    President
    George Brown College

  • Kenneth Tanenbaum,

    Founder and Chairman
    Kilmer Developments

  • Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan,

    President and CEO
    Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

  • Ajay Mehra,

    CEO
    TOK Group

  • Peter Dobrowolski,

    Senior Vice President
    Bee-Clean Building Maintenance

  • Bob Stanton,

    Senior Vice President Business Development
    SSP Canada

  • James Schmitz,

    Vice President Business Development
    Hudson/Dufry ... an Avolta Company

  • Tom Mihalik,

    Owner
    Tom’s Place

  • Celia Smith,

    CEO
    Luminato Festival Toronto

  • Dionne Bishop,

    CEO
    Events by Dionne

  • Dale Wishewan,

    President & CEO
    Booster Juice

  • Christina Ogrodnick,

    Vice President, Commercial
    Pattison Outdoor Advertising

  • Shaun Francis Ruddy,

    Chair
    St. Patrick’s Parade Society of Toronto

  • Greg Elmhirst,

    Elmhirst’s Resort

  • Gavin Quinn,

    Quinn Hospitality Group

  • Jorge Da Silva,

    Director of Airport Lounges
    Swissport North America

  • Sarah Murphy,

    Executive Director
    Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce, Toronto