Toronto Pearson International Airport—the country’s busiest hub for both passengers and air cargo—has embarked on the first phase of an ambitious CA$3-billion capital program dubbed “Pearson LIFT” (Long-term Investments in Facilities and Terminals). Announced in Toronto on 11 May 2026, the seven-year project will rehabilitate runways, add a high-speed parallel taxiway, rebuild more than 30 km of baggage belts and install 20,000 smart LED airfield lights. It is the largest single infrastructure undertaking at Pearson since Terminal 1 opened in 2004. Pearson handled 47 million travellers in 2025; the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) believes the upgrades will lift annual throughput to roughly 65 million by the early 2030s—an increase of about 35 percent.
![Toronto Pearson launches CA$3-billion expansion to boost capacity by one-third]()
As passenger traffic grows, securing the right travel documents quickly will be crucial for both leisure and corporate flyers using the expanded hub. VisaHQ’s digital platform simplifies applications for Canadian eTAs, visitor visas and business permits, and its corporate dashboard allows travel managers to oversee multiple submissions in one place—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Chief executive Deborah Flint told reporters that higher capacity is critical if Canada is to remain competitive as a North American gateway for global business travel, cargo and foreign investment. Nearly 45 percent of all air freight destined for Canadian markets already transits Pearson’s logistics zone. Much of the early spend focuses on airside efficiency: additional remote stands and a new taxiway are expected to trim average aircraft taxi-in/taxi-out times by up to four minutes, improving on-time performance and freeing scarce runway slots for more peak-hour movements. Behind the scenes, the airport will replace aging baggage carousels in both Terminals 1 and 3, lifting peak sorting capacity to 100,000 bags per day—vital for tight domestic-to-international connections used heavily by corporate travellers. For travellers, the program promises upgraded security checkpoints, expanded commercial areas and more power outlets in gate seating. The GTAA is also integrating sustainability components: electric-vehicle chargers for ground-handling equipment, low-emissions asphalt for runway resurfacing and sensors that dim apron lighting when stands are vacant. No new passenger facility fees are planned during phase one, but the authority hinted that user-pay financing may be considered if a future terminal expansion proceeds. Business-mobility managers should plan for rolling construction zones over the next five years. While the GTAA will stage most runway work overnight, baggage-system outages and temporary gate changes are inevitable. Travel teams moving time-critical cargo through Pearson’s Cargo West precinct should monitor NOTAMs and GTAA bulletins, as certain aircraft parking positions will close periodically to accommodate pavement work.
As passenger traffic grows, securing the right travel documents quickly will be crucial for both leisure and corporate flyers using the expanded hub. VisaHQ’s digital platform simplifies applications for Canadian eTAs, visitor visas and business permits, and its corporate dashboard allows travel managers to oversee multiple submissions in one place—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Chief executive Deborah Flint told reporters that higher capacity is critical if Canada is to remain competitive as a North American gateway for global business travel, cargo and foreign investment. Nearly 45 percent of all air freight destined for Canadian markets already transits Pearson’s logistics zone. Much of the early spend focuses on airside efficiency: additional remote stands and a new taxiway are expected to trim average aircraft taxi-in/taxi-out times by up to four minutes, improving on-time performance and freeing scarce runway slots for more peak-hour movements. Behind the scenes, the airport will replace aging baggage carousels in both Terminals 1 and 3, lifting peak sorting capacity to 100,000 bags per day—vital for tight domestic-to-international connections used heavily by corporate travellers. For travellers, the program promises upgraded security checkpoints, expanded commercial areas and more power outlets in gate seating. The GTAA is also integrating sustainability components: electric-vehicle chargers for ground-handling equipment, low-emissions asphalt for runway resurfacing and sensors that dim apron lighting when stands are vacant. No new passenger facility fees are planned during phase one, but the authority hinted that user-pay financing may be considered if a future terminal expansion proceeds. Business-mobility managers should plan for rolling construction zones over the next five years. While the GTAA will stage most runway work overnight, baggage-system outages and temporary gate changes are inevitable. Travel teams moving time-critical cargo through Pearson’s Cargo West precinct should monitor NOTAMs and GTAA bulletins, as certain aircraft parking positions will close periodically to accommodate pavement work.
