Preclearance is now available for United States-bound passengers departing from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The airport’s new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility opened on March 10, 2026.
The long-anticipated facility allows passengers traveling to the United States to go through US CPB processing in Toronto before getting on their flights. Upon arrival, passengers arrive as domestic passengers, allowing them to bypass customs and immigration processing.
Not only does preclearance facilitate easier connections in the United States, but it also allows airlines to connect international airports with American airports that do not have CBP facilities. For example, Air Canada has announced a new service between Toronto City Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport that will start on March 29, 2026. This route would not be possible without preclearance since CBP does not offer customs and immigration services at LaGuardia Airport.
The opening of the preclearance facility means that the airport will join eight other Canadian airports that offer preclearance. There are also U.S. CPB preclearance facilities at three airports in the Caribbean, two airports in Ireland, and at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.
Porter Airlines has historically been the dominant airline at Toronto City Airport, offering transborder flights to cities like Boston, Chicago, Newark, and Washington. However, Air Canada has been increasing its presence at the airport in recent years. In addition to its new LaGuardia flights, the airline will start flying to Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles later this year.
“Today marks more than the completion of Canada’s first U.S. CBP Preclearance facility in 25 years, it represents the culmination of a decade of determination, partnership, and vision,” President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority – the owner and operator of the airport – said in a press release. “With this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to continued investment, innovation and advancement to secure the future of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.”
