I do everything in my power to avoid flying through Toronto International (which is yet another airport named after a dead politician, a dismal trend). The security line-ups are long, the prices are high, the taxes are high, and the layout of the terminal (it takes 20 minutes to walk from the gate at international arrivals to customs - and then you have to exit into the unscreened area and go through security again. Just a really really bad layout.
Fortunately, being in Ottawa, I can get almost anywhere in North America in one connection or less - while avoiding YYZ.
I'm not defending the costs of landing a 747... yes it's outrageous. But, having been into Pearson in a light plane once, I would say that the landing fee is fair - especially outside of peak hours ($75). I'm sure the landing fee is set to keep us little guys from joyriding in the area and becoming a hazard to the more serious traffic which is lined up on approach. Certainly the $75 (or $200) is not a money making proposition.
I do agree, though, that there are a lot of better alternatives nearby. CYTZ in an awesome little airport. Approaching the city over the water, with the skyline just of your shoulder is really amazing.
If you're a private pilot, you can get dinged with a landing fee close to CA $200 even in a light plane, and that's before ramp fees, parking, etc. If you're an airline passenger, your share of the obscene landing fee (over $13,000 to land a 747, vs around $3,000 at other Canadian airports) is tacked onto your ticket price.
The high fees have nothing to do with the fact that the airport's busy -- it has about the same traffic as Philadelphia Intl (PHL), which had no landing fee for light aircraft when I visited in 2003 and charges around US $2,000 for a 747 to land. Something's just broken somewhere, and nobody will take responsibility for the problem.
If you're coming to Toronto, use CYTZ (downtown), CYKZ (northeast), CYOO (east), CNC3 (northwest), or CZBA (west). CYTZ has a landing fee of around $10 for a light plane (watch the ramp fees at Porter, though!), and the others have no landing fee at all.
Comments about Lester B. Pearson International Airport
[leave a comment]
previous | next
Comments 1 to 9 of 9 about Lester B. Pearson International Airport:
Sat, 28 Jan 2012
this web site sucks
Fri, 14 Jan 2011
aircraft spotting is ausome at this airport cause you can see almost any variaty of aircraft
hey
Mon, 10 Jan 2011
hello
Sun, 12 Sep 2010
I do everything in my power to avoid flying through Toronto International (which is yet another airport named after a dead politician, a dismal trend). The security line-ups are long, the prices are high, the taxes are high, and the layout of the terminal (it takes 20 minutes to walk from the gate at international arrivals to customs - and then you have to exit into the unscreened area and go through security again. Just a really really bad layout.
Fortunately, being in Ottawa, I can get almost anywhere in North America in one connection or less - while avoiding YYZ.
Thu, 18 Mar 2010
I flew a Cessna 150 in and out of YYZ many years ago when flying ops were moved from the BFC to YZ's north end due muddy runways in the spring.
I flew a Cessna 150 in and out of YYZ many years ago when flying ops were moved from the BFC to YZ's north end due muddy runways in the spring.
Sat, 20 Oct 2007
I'm not defending the costs of landing a 747... yes it's outrageous. But, having been into Pearson in a light plane once, I would say that the landing fee is fair - especially outside of peak hours ($75). I'm sure the landing fee is set to keep us little guys from joyriding in the area and becoming a hazard to the more serious traffic which is lined up on approach. Certainly the $75 (or $200) is not a money making proposition.
I do agree, though, that there are a lot of better alternatives nearby. CYTZ in an awesome little airport. Approaching the city over the water, with the skyline just of your shoulder is really amazing.
Tue, 14 Aug 2007
This is the world's expensive airport -- http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2005/11/15/gtaa-051115.html
If you're a private pilot, you can get dinged with a landing fee close to CA $200 even in a light plane, and that's before ramp fees, parking, etc. If you're an airline passenger, your share of the obscene landing fee (over $13,000 to land a 747, vs around $3,000 at other Canadian airports) is tacked onto your ticket price.
The high fees have nothing to do with the fact that the airport's busy -- it has about the same traffic as Philadelphia Intl (PHL), which had no landing fee for light aircraft when I visited in 2003 and charges around US $2,000 for a 747 to land. Something's just broken somewhere, and nobody will take responsibility for the problem.
If you're coming to Toronto, use CYTZ (downtown), CYKZ (northeast), CYOO (east), CNC3 (northwest), or CZBA (west). CYTZ has a landing fee of around $10 for a light plane (watch the ramp fees at Porter, though!), and the others have no landing fee at all.
previous | next