The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson, recently held a media day to provide travel tips for passengers ahead of March Break.
March Break has always been a busy time at Pearson, and this year is no exception, with the GTAA expecting up to 125,000 passengers per day during the peak travel weekend. This represents approximately 85% of the pre-pandemic volume seen during March Break in 2019.
Pearson has been collaborating with its partners to support their operations, including working with airlines since August of last year to ensure they balance their activity with their resources during the traditionally busy travel period.
To make travel easier for passengers, Pearson and its airport partners have introduced a number of tools. One such tool is the YYZ Express, an online reservation program that allows travellers to book a spot in the security line ahead of their flight, up to 72 hours in advance. This will help speed up security wait times for passengers.
Another tool is the Mobile Passport Control, an app introduced by United States Customs and Border Protection, which allows travellers to digitally submit their customs form for a smoother departures experience from Pearson if they're travelling to the US.
Pearson's live wait times dashboard provides travellers with real-time information ahead of arriving at the airport. Pearson's peak travel times dashboard gives passengers a look at historical data to help them understand if they'll be passing through the airport during a busy period. Advance Declaration continues to be offered by Canada Border Services Agency, which lets travellers submit their customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of flying into Canada, giving them a faster border experience and saving them time at Pearson. And new at Pearson, passengers who complete an Advance Declaration will have access to an Express Lane in the customs area, further saving them time.
Passengers can also brush up on what to do to make the security screening experience smoother by checking out travel tips from CATSA. There are specific tips for families, seniors, passengers with special needs and more.
Pearson will be offering activities in both terminals to keep the kids entertained, including appearances by Lester the Toronto Pearson mascot, who will be handing out lip balms, colouring books, crayons and more. Ron the magician will also be on-hand to entertain families while they wait for their flights.
Travellers should also be mindful that this is the time of year when winter weather can impact travel. While every partner in the Pearson ecosystem works diligently to mitigate the effects of weather events, it's important to know that snow, ice and extreme cold weather can impact flights.
The GTAA strongly encourages all passengers to check their flight status with their airline before leaving for the airport. With these tools and tips in hand, passengers can be assured of a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience at Pearson this March Break.
