by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 10:15 AM ET, Tue March 10, 2026
Porter Airlines is marking the opening of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) Preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), a development the airline says will significantly streamline travel for passengers flying to the United States.
Porter Airlines has long advocated for the addition of U.S. preclearance facilities. The airline has been operating U.S. flights from the downtown Toronto airport since 2008, transporting more than 13 million passengers on those routes to date.
“Porter has strongly supported Preclearance at Billy Bishop for over 15 years, recognizing the tremendous value it brings to travellers. This is an important development for our passengers and the airport,” said Michael Deluce, CEO, Porter Airlines.
“Since launching U.S. flights from YTZ in 2008, Porter has been committed to providing elevated economy service between Toronto and key American cities. Preclearance represents the next chapter in that journey.”
Porter currently operates up to 16 daily flights from Billy Bishop to five U.S. destinations, including Boston, Chicago, New York/Newark and Washington, D.C.
New service to Nashville (BNA) is scheduled to begin on May 11, while existing Chicago flights will transition from Midway (MDW) to O’Hare (ORD) starting Sept. 1.
With preclearance now operational, passengers travelling from Billy Bishop will complete U.S. customs and immigration procedures before departure in Toronto. Upon arrival in the United States, travellers will be treated as domestic passengers, eliminating the need to clear customs again and allowing for faster connections to onward flights.
“Billy Bishop has consistently facilitated U.S. travel each year for more passengers than other airports that already have Preclearance. We thank the Canadian and U.S. governments for enabling this important investment, as well as Toronto Port Authority and Nieuport Aviation for ensuring that all requirements were in place for the facility to open,” added Deluce.
To ensure a smooth experience through the new facility, passengers travelling to the U.S. are advised to arrive at Billy Bishop three hours prior to departure, subject to airport operating hours. Check-in and baggage drop-off for U.S. flights now close 60 minutes before scheduled departure times to allow time for security screening and preclearance processing.
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