Toronto Airport Terminals
Toronto Airport consists of two terminal buildings, terminal 1 and terminal 3, and one additional concourse (Infield Concourse) connected to terminal 3. The old terminal 2 was demolished in 2007 and, in its place, rose the enormous new terminal 1 (basically spreading over terminal 2). Thus, nowadays, two terminals handle the YYZ passenger traffic. However, they both handle international and domestic flights as well. As a matter of fact, the segregation of “duties” between the two terminals is based on airline alliances and not on the departure or the destination location.
Toronto Airport Terminal 1
Terminal 1 of Toronto International Airport is an enormous terminal. As already said, it even took over the old terminal building 2 and now covers a vast 3.724.000 sq ft/346.000 square meter area. Verily, Toronto airport terminal 1 is the biggest terminal in Canada and is listed among the 15 largest terminals in the world. It handles flights operated by Air Canada and the air carriers-members of Star Alliance, as well as by the unaffiliated Air North, Canadian North, Emirates, Eurowings Discover, and Lynx Air. With an overall of 58 gates, it is divided into 3 concourses housing Gates D, F, and E. Indeed, it can accommodate Airbus 380 at two of its gates. Please note that, for the moment, only Emirates provides Airbus 380 flights.
The terminal is spread over 4 levels. In detail:
- Ground Floor: the terminal’s ground transit system is to be found here.
- First Floor: the Arrivals level
- Second Floor: the Departures level. From that level, you’ll have access to all gates.
- Third Floor: the area where international travelers check in and board their flights
Toronto airport terminal 1 has all the necessary facilities and amenities, along with an eight-story parking lot, many lounges, and the famous ThyssenKrupp Express Walkways, the fastest-moving walkways, making the YYZ passengers’ transit around the airport fast and super easy. What’s more, besides the ordinary customs, it houses a “Customs B” area. Those are the security points addressing international or transborder travelers transiting to another international flight (not in the U.S.). Hence, they can pass through Customs B and head straight to Pier E, without having to re-check-in their baggage or get caught in other time-consuming procedures.
Toronto Airport Terminal 3
The second of the Toronto airport terminals is terminal 3. It is still a big terminal, yet not slightly as big as the huge terminal 1. Opening its doors back in 1991, it is a hub for WestJet as well as serves the members of the Oneworld and Skyteam alliances. Additionally, it hosts numerous unaffiliated air carriers. Gates A, B, and C are to be found in terminal 3. Indeed, terminal 3 has 48 gates, raising the number of the total airport gates to 106.
Its layout is very much alike the terminal’s 1 configuration. Thus:
- Level 1: the Arrivals floor
- Level 2: the Departures area, connected to the parking lot, Sheraton Hotel, and the LINK train
- Level 3: the zone for passengers with a flight connection
Terminal 3 offers its passengers many facilities, including a parking lot, access to Sheraton Hotel, and a landside shopping area (Node C). Please keep in mind that for the U.S., there is a separate check-in zone.
Interlinked to terminal 3 via a bus, the Infield Concourse is basically considered a part of T3. Verily, passengers landing at Infield Concourse or departing from there are thought to fly from or to Toronto airport terminal 3. The Infield Concourse was made to cope with the airport’s needs during the new terminal’s 1 construction. However, it kept operating even after terminal 1 was put into service, enriching the airport with six more bridged gates. Nowadays, it handles numerous flights, whereas when not needed, it is used as a film set.
Transfer Between Toronto Airport Terminals
The two Toronto airport terminals are linked by the APM (automated people mover) Terminal Link Train. The light train runs around the clock with a 4-minute frequency during rush hours (from 03:30 am to 08:00 am and from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm) and an 8-minute frequency at other times. It is free and accessible and provides connections between terminals, to T1 Parking Lot, to Sheraton Gateway Hotel and Alt Hotel, as well as to Value Parking Lot and Viscount Station. Depending on your destination, the ride with the Terminal Link Train will last from 2-8 minutes.
The stops for the Terminal Link Train lie at level 5 of the T1 Parking Lot, at the pedestrian bridge between T3 and Sheraton Hotel (you’ll have to use the lifts or the escalators to reach the train platform), and at level 4 of Value Park Garage.
FAQs
What is the difference between terminal 1 and terminal 3 at Pearson Airport?
Toronto airport terminal 1 is the largest of the two terminals. In fact, it is the largest Canadian terminal and among the biggest by floor space in the world. It mainly serves Air Canada and the other Star Alliance members, along with Emirates and a few other unaffiliated air carriers. On the other hand, terminal 3 handles flights operated by Oneworld and Skyteam members as well as by numerous independent airlines.
Is terminal 1 Toronto domestic or international?
The two Toronto airport terminals don’t serve international and domestic flights respectively. Conversely, they both handle flights to every part of the world. As a matter of fact, each terminal houses different airline alliances.
Can you walk between terminals at YYZ?
No, you can’t walk the distance between the two Toronto airport terminals. Still, the free APM Terminal Link Train connects the two terminals 24/7. It has available routes every 4 minutes during peak hours and every 8 minutes at other times, and needs about 2 minutes to travel from one terminal to the other.