by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 12:10 PM ET, Tue May 12, 2026
Canada’s busiest airport is launching an upgrading project that will help it service even more passengers — up to 30,000 more per day.
The upgrading project broke ground on Monday, May 11, 2026. It’s one of the biggest airport infrastructure projects in Canadian history. The first phase of the decade-long renovation will see airfield technology upgrades and expansion as well as an overhaul of the baggage network.
“The future is very bright, and our 52,000 workers will expand to 68,000 jobs over that term, as well, at a time where good jobs, stable jobs, are very important to the country and locally,” says Pearson CEO Deborah Flint.
During phase one, which is earmarked at $3 billion dollars, a new, state-of-the-art airfield lighting control and management system will enhance visibility and guidance to support operations on its runways and taxiways. The airfield is being expanded to 2.2 million square metres, with new aircraft stands and a high-speed taxiway.
In Terminal 1, new luggage carousels will be installed, and investments are being made across 30 kilometres of its baggage infrastructure, with new cameras and sensors for early-issue detection being added.
There will also be expanded electric vehicle charging and cleaner heating systems introduced as part of the overhaul.
Following the first phase of the project, Terminals 1 and 3 will benefit from renewed retail, amenities and passenger processing spaces. Coming phases will also focus on parking facilities.
"We know that in today's time, Pearson must be ambitious, we must be dynamic, and we must be transformative,” says Flint.
Pearson saw 45 million passengers in 2025, and expects to grow to 60 million by the early 2030s. This renovation is expected to help make that possible.
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