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Toronto Pearson celebrates re-opening of second-busiest runway

TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2022 – The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport, Monday announced the re-opening of Runway 06L/24R, the airport’s second-busiest runway, after an eight-month rehabilitation. The project is one of the largest in Pearson’s history and required careful planning and coordination, which began over a year-and-a-half ago, to ensure safety and minimal disruption for passengers and nearby communities.

The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Federal Transport Minister, joined GTAA President and CEO Deborah Flint, along with local elected officials, the many GTAA teams responsible for the rehabilitation, and representatives from Dufferin Construction and Avia NG for a ribbon-cutting to mark the re-opening.

Well in advance of the rehabilitation work, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority worked closely with NAV CANADA, airlines and many other partners to ensure safety and minimal impacts to passengers and nearby communities.
*Photo by: Kevin Prentice*

“It’s great to see the reopening of Runway 06L/24R after eight months of rehabilitation,” said Minister Alghabra. “As the busiest airport in Canada and one of the busiest in North America, the return of this runway at Pearson Airport will keep air passengers moving safely and smoothly in and out of the GTA. As the air sector continues to move through post-pandemic recovery, investments like this one in our transportation infrastructure will help us ensure that we maintain a vibrant and competitive Canadian air sector.”

Toronto Pearson’s Runway 06L/24R is one of Canada’s busiest runways, facilitating trade, foreign direct investment, tourism and business. *Photo by: Kevin Prentice*

“This runway is more than a marvel of modern engineering, as amazing as it is,” said Ms. Flint. “It paves the way for the next 30 years of YYZ stimulating Canada’s economy by facilitating trade, foreign direct investment, tourism and business. This runway is more than a place where planes land and take off; it’s emblematic of a brighter future, both for Toronto Pearson and Canada through the global connections and economic activity it enables.

Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) executives, along with the GTAA teams and representatives from Dufferin Construction and Avia NG responsible for the 2022 runway rehabilitation program gathered on Runway 06L/24R to celebrate on November 18, the date of the project’s completion.

“I thank the many GTAA teams and external partners involved in the planning and implementation of this complex project and delivering it safely, on time and on budget,” Ms. Flint continued. “My particular thanks go to Minister Alghabra and the federal government for the Airport Critical Infrastructure Program funding awarded to Pearson earlier this year, which partially funded this project.”

The rehabilitation of Runway 06L/24R extends the life of the runway by 30 years and enhances the safety of Pearson’s operations. *Photo by Kevin Prentice*

Runway 06L/24R rehabilitation fast facts:

First built in the 1960s, the 3-km runway needed to be fully reconstructed due to the wearing down of its concrete sub-structure as a result of weather, use and time.
This project extends the life of the runway by 30 years and enhances the safety of Pearson’s operations.
The work lasted eight months, from April to November 2022, but planning for this project, one of the largest in Pearson’s history, began over a year-and-a-half ago.
The rehabilitation exemplifies Pearson’s commitment to environmental sustainability:
- Concrete from the original runway was crushed and re-used for the new runway.
- Upgrading 1,800 incandescent lights to LED lights as part of this project will help reduce Pearson’s carbon footprint and lower maintenance costs.
- The construction of an on-site batch plant reduced the need to truck concrete to the rehabilitation site and reduced GHG emissions.
- Two of only three 12-foot pavers in existence in Canada were used for the rehabilitation, helping to reduce the overall timeline of the project and associated emissions.

About the Greater Toronto Airports Authority

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority is the operator of Toronto – Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest airport and a vital connector of people, businesses and goods. Toronto Pearson has been named “Best Large Airport in North America serving more than 40 million passengers” for five years in a row by Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade representative of the world’s airports. In recognition of its Healthy Airport program, ACI also awarded Toronto Pearson the “Best hygiene measures in North America” award two years running, and Toronto Pearson was the first Canadian airport to receive ACI’s global health accreditation for its response to COVID-19.

Lead photo From right: Deborah Flint, President and CEO, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA); Pat Neville, Vice President, Airport Development and Technical Services, GTAA; and Craig Bradbrook, Chief Operations Officer, GTAA stand on the newly re-opened Runway 06L/24R, Toronto Pearson’s second-busiest runway.

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