$1.5B plan will modernize terminals at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga 

Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga has struck a significant deal as it moves forward with one of the largest airport infrastructure projects in Canadian history.

Officials at Canada’s biggest and busiest airport said on Tuesday Toronto Pearson has awarded a pair of contracts totalling $1.5 billion to modernize its two passenger terminals to Canadian firms Norr-Dialog and PCL Construction. Norr-Dialog will be responsible for project design while PCL Construction will build the reimagined airport terminals.

Together, the partners will “help deliver the transformation of our terminals, creating a stronger foundation for future growth and passenger experience improvements,” the airport added.

The Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 Revitalization Program “will modernize aging infrastructure while creating a faster, more comfortable airport experience for millions of travellers,” Pearson officials said in a news release issued on Tuesday morning.

“Investments in gates, passenger processing areas and customs and immigration facilities will improve the fluidity of the Pearson journey, helping passengers move more seamlessly through the airport to board their flights, while also strengthening airport operations.”

The revitalization of the terminals is part of a larger, multibillion-dollar “decade-long transformation” that promises to modernize and expand Toronto Pearson, airport officials said.

Toronto Pearson Airport is Canada’s biggest and busiest air hub.

A creation of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which runs Pearson, the airport’s Long-term Investment in Facilities and Terminals plan (Pearson LIFT) has been in the works for years.

The first phase of Pearson LIFT, a $3-billion investment in airside and baggage systems, was announced at a groundbreaking in May.

Pearson LIFT is a blueprint that spans more than a decade and invests billions of dollars in the airport “through several construction programs aimed at preparing Canada’s largest airport for the challenges and opportunities of the coming years and beyond,” GTAA officials said earlier.

Toronto Pearson President and CEO Deborah Flint said in Tuesday’s news release the airport is a “vital gateway connecting people, products and businesses to the world.”

She added the $1.5-billion investment in upgrading the passenger terminals “marks another significant milestone in Pearson LIFT and demonstrates our momentum in modernizing Pearson that will meet customer expectations.

“Elevating the travel experience”

“We’re elevating the travel experience so Toronto Pearson can continue its part in fueling Canada’s economy by welcoming more passenger growth and offering better customer experience.”

Improvements planned for the two Pearson terminals include:

• Expanded terminal spaces.
• Refreshed lounges.
• Expanded in-terminal charging stations.
• Improved baggage processing.
• Modernized check-in areas.
• Advanced security screening.

Pearson officials noted the construction will be delivered in stages, “ensuring that the airport continues to operate safely and efficiently while minimizing disruptions for passengers and airline partners.”

The larger Pearson LIFT undertaking that will bring about massive expansion also means Canada’s biggest airport can grow to eventually serve 65 million passengers a year (an increase of nearly 20 million from current numbers), “creating 16,000 new jobs at the airport, supporting more than 160,000 jobs nationwide, contributing $30 billion to the economy and generating more than $10 billion annually in spending with Canadian suppliers,” airport officials noted earlier.

Early details of the Pearson LIFT plan were first announced in April 2024.

(Cover photo: Toronto Pearson Airport X)