TORONTO — The wheels are in motion for Toronto’s Pearson Airport’s LIFT program, a capital plan worth billions of investment dollars that will span more than a decade.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) initiated discussions with design and construction companies today on Pearson LIFT (Long term Investment in Facilities and Terminals) on the procurement, planning and vision of the program.

According to GTAA, Toronto Pearson executives will launch the first phase of a procurement process today at an industry forum for 700 participants from design, construction and technology industry companies. 

Although Toronto Pearson has been meeting passenger need by deploying resources to many of its aged assets and facilities, GTAA admits that it is not a sustainable solution, with passenger traffic expected to grow to approximately 65 million annually by the early 2030s, a figure that takes the airport beyond its 45 million passengers in 2023. As such, Toronto Pearson Airport is making investments like LIFT to accommodate increasing passenger demand, with a focus on affordability, smart design and sustainability.

“Through LIFT, we will deliver a world-class passenger experience, integrate smart architecture, unlock the digital potential in air travel, and advance towards a net-zero future,” said Deborah Flint, President and Chief Executive Officer, GTAA. “These plans are anchored to our ambition to build an airport that will strengthen international competitiveness, leverage innovation, and advance sustainability, all which drive economic returns for Canada,” she added.

The first program of LIFT will focus on modernizing airport assets, including high speed taxi lanes to improve airfield performance, modernized airfield electric lighting and control system, interim terminal facilities, and investments in power generation to advance towards net-zero targets. These enhancements, says GTAA, will pave the way for Toronto Pearson to become one of the greenest, technologically advanced, and passenger-friendly airports in North America and globally.

“LIFT is an investment in Canada’s future economic prosperity and is poised to generate billions of dollars in economic benefits. These necessary investments will strengthen the supply chain, open the door to new opportunities for Canadian businesses, and create good jobs right here in the GTA. Together, they will enable sustainable growth and competitiveness on a global scale,” said Doug Allingham, Chairman of the Board, GTAA.