Billy Bishop Airport – 5 Reasons Why It’s Ideal For Senior Travelers In 2023
Author, Cynthia Ross Tustin – December 20, 2022
Billy Bishop Airport is one of Toronto’s best-kept secrets. And it’s one that senior travellers should consider taking advantage of. There are plenty of great reasons why it’s “the city airport”. So, let me share my thoughts on Billy Bishop Airport – 5 reasons why it’s ideal for senior travellers!
Location, Location, Location
How many airports can you walk to? Seriously, there can’t be more than a handful in the entire world. And one is Toronto’s island airport. Not only can you walk to it, but if you live in Toronto near a subway line, you can also get there from home and never go outside!
You can arrive or depart from the heart of the city, easy peasy! You can even ride your bike to the airport, just remember to bring your bike lock. But if you don’t want to juggle your luggage on your handlebars, there’s a free shuttle that runs downtown (free, and that’s my family motto, “If it’s free, it’s for me”!)
Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) is at the foot of Bathurst Street, and you can get to the actual island via an underground tunnel or ferry. Although don’t plan on being on the ferry for long, it’s a 90-second trip.
Fast and Uncrowded
Only one airline flies out of Billy Bishop Airport, and that’s Porter Airlines. That keeps lines short and wait times reduced. Porter Airline planes hold no more than 76 passengers, which makes check-in fast, and that includes customs.
This is not a sprawling airport with miles to walk between terminals or gates.
This place runs like clockwork. As long as I have my electronic boarding pass on my phone, I’ve never had to arrive two hours early. I mean I do because I’m a total worrier. But 45 minutes has always actually been enough. It’s that 90-second ferry ride that slows things down😁
Comfortable
The lounge…yes, there’s only one big one. But it is definitely more comfortable than anything you’ll experience at Pearson (YYZ) unless you’re paying to use a premium lounge. Padded chairs, comfortable couches, and high-top tables.
This is the airport preferred by business travellers, but that doesn’t mean those travelling for pleasure can’t take advantage of the free wifi, charging stations, and privacy pods with desks and screens.
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Amenities like free luggage carts, and fountains to fill up your water bottle before you get on the plane. These are little things sure, but they’re nice things. And I’m not a germophobe, but COVID has certainly made me take notice of how often things are cleaned and refreshed. And YTZ is immaculate every time I’m there.
They’re also cleaner and greener than many other airports. The ferry is electric, and the batteries are recharged by wind and solar. The same clean energy also powers the pedestrian tunnel from the mainland to the island.
But you won’t be thinking about the water fountain, because there’s an amazing tapas restaurant and an espresso bar! Prices here, in my opinion, are less than at Pearson.
The View, Well That’s Just a Bonus
The island airport has a great view of Toronto and Lake Ontario from the ground. But it has an award-winning view as you’re landing.
It’s won the distinction of having one of the “most scenic airport approaches” in the world. “Billy Bishop is the only airport in Canada to receive this honour and is among some very scenic company – like Donegal Airport, Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten, and Nice Cote D’Azur Airport to name a few.”
The entire airport itself routinely wins awards such as the Skytrax Award. It’s kind of like the People’s Choice Awards but for airports. Billy Bishop is considered world-class by travellers.
History
Appreciate the history, of this little airport that began back in the 1930s as the George VI Airport and was mostly used for military purposes. It was later renamed after the WWI flying ace, Billy Bishop. He had a distinguished and decorated career as a military aviator. And he is often credited for shooting down the Red Baron (although I always thought it was Snoopy).
Destination, Destination, Destination
Seniors will appreciate that even though it’s small, it gets you where you need to go! From Billy Bishop, you can get to 20 different cities in Canada and the US, including New York, Boston, and Washington DC.
Need a weekend getaway to New York’s Central Park or Vancouver’s Stanely Park, start here!
There’s a certain appeal to flying a regional airline from a regional airport, it feels like “supporting local”. Don’t ask me why, it just does.
Let’s Sum Up: Billy Bishop Airport – 5 Reasons Why It’s Ideal For Senior Travelers
Only you can answer that question. Perhaps not every reason resonates with you as a “senior”, but I know for myself that the convenience of the location, the lack of crowds, and not having to walk great distances to my departure gate is a big deal. I appreciate waiting in a comfortable chair with arms on it, and yes…I really like the coffee!
Cheers,
Cynthia
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Cynthia Ross Tustin retired early to pursue her passion for writing. Turns out, she's equally passionate about retirement! This author has spent 1000s of hours researching all the best that retirement has to offer. What you'll find here is a well-curated resource of amazing places to go and fun things to do as your retirement approaches. Not retired, no problem! There's plenty here for all of us that are "of a certain vintage"!