Following the war, commercial operations resumed and quickly expanded. The Canadian federal government purchased the airport in the mid-1950s to manage its rapid growth and integrate it into the national transportation network. ## Transition to Toronto International Airport To accommodate the jet age of the 1960s, the airport underwent significant modernization. In 1960, the facility was renamed Toronto International Airport. A major milestone occurred in 1964 with the opening of Aeroquay One, a revolutionary circular terminal designed to minimize walking distances between the parking garage and the aircraft gates. As passenger traffic continued to surge, the airport expanded further. Terminal 2 opened in 1972, initially serving as a charter terminal before becoming a primary hub for domestic and international flights.
In 1984, the airport was officially renamed Lester B. Pearson International Airport in honor of Canada's 14th Prime Minister. Lester B. Pearson, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957, had deep ties to the region and represented Canada on the world stage, making his name a fitting choice for the country's primary international gateway. ## The Greater Toronto Airports Authority and Modernization In 1996, management of the airport transitioned from the federal government to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) under a long-term lease. The GTAA initiated the Airport Development Program, a multi-billion-dollar redevelopment project designed to replace aging infrastructure and prepare the airport for 21st-century travel demands. Terminal 3 had already opened in 1991 as a privately funded project to relieve congestion, and it was later acquired by the GTAA. Under the new development plan, the historic Aeroquay One and the sprawling Terminal 2 were systematically demolished to make way for a new, state-of-the-art Terminal 1. The first phase of the new Terminal 1 opened in 2004, featuring a spacious, linear design capable of handling modern high-capacity aircraft.
## Current Infrastructure and Operations Today, Toronto Pearson International Airport operates with two active passenger terminals: * **Terminal 1:** The largest airport terminal in Canada, serving as the main hub for Air Canada and other Star Alliance carriers. It features a soaring ceiling, extensive customs facilities, and a dedicated retail area. * **Terminal 3:** Serves WestJet, Transat, and various international airlines belonging to the SkyTeam and Oneworld alliances. The two terminals are connected by the Terminal Link, a free automated people mover that also connects passengers to the airport's parking facilities and regional transit connections. The airport features five active runways, allowing it to handle complex parallel landing and takeoff patterns in various weather conditions. It also serves as a key cargo hub, handling a significant portion of Canada's air freight.
## Access and Connectivity Pearson Airport is highly integrated into the regional transit network. In addition to highway access, the Union Pearson (UP) Express train connects the airport directly to Union Station in downtown Toronto, providing a reliable transit option for travelers and airport employees. Local bus services also connect the airport to the wider Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and GO Transit networks, ensuring accessibility from across the province.
