Blaming the high inflationary environment and ongoing impacts from COVID-19, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) will increase aeronautical rates and its airport improvement fee (AIF) on Jan. 1, 2023.

The adjustment to the AIF, says GTAA, will put Toronto Pearson in line with the current rates charged by other airports across Canada.

Effective Jan. 1, aeronautical rates for commercial aviation, business aircraft and general aviation aircraft will increase by 4%, while the AIF for departing passengers will increase by $5 and $1 for connecting passengers.

The revenue generated will support the operation of Toronto Pearson, including:

• The installation of new inbound baggage carrousels, including the upgrade of 29,000 m. of baggage handling conveyor belts and a new robotic baggage storage and retrieval system in Terminal 3

• More cleaning and passenger service providers to respond to rising demand for air travel

• Renovations to airport amenities across both terminals, including a refresh of washrooms and customs clearance areas

• A major restoration of roofing in Terminal 3

• Refurbishing escalators and moving walkways while augmenting systems with advanced technologies, such as a pilot of autonomous vehicles

• Doubling the investment in the annual airport asset restoration program

• Increasing staff for maintenance and administration activities.

“Airport operations have improved significantly since the summer, but Toronto Pearson is still feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated GTAA President and CEO Deborah Flint, adding, “As a not-for-profit entity, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we have sufficient revenues to maintain and invest in a world-class facility to provide our valued passengers with an experience that is appropriate for Canada’s largest airport.”