YYZ is the IATA code for Toronto Pearson International Airport, the busiest airport in Canada, sitting in Mississauga, Ontario, just northwest of Toronto. The letters trace back to "YZ", the old telegraph code for the Malton rail station where the airport was built, with a leading "Y" that marks a Canadian airport. The site carries the name of Lester B. Pearson, Canada's 14th prime minister and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Ever wondered why a Toronto airport reads "YYZ", what the letters mean, or how big the place really is? Here are the plain answers in one spot.
| IATA code | YYZ |
| ICAO code | CYYZ |
| Full name | Toronto Pearson International Airport |
| Named after | Lester B. Pearson (renamed 1984) |
| Location | Mississauga, Ontario (Greater Toronto Area) |
| Terminals | Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 |
| Runways | 5 |
| Rank | Busiest airport in Canada |
Why is Toronto's airport code YYZ?
The "YZ" came from the railway. Before the airport opened, the small farming community of Malton, where the runways now sit, had a telegraph and rail station coded "YZ". When the airfield was built on that land, it kept the station's identifier. Transport Canada puts a "Y" in front of most Canadian airport codes, so "YZ" turned into "YYZ". The code has nothing to do with the word Toronto.
What does YYZ stand for?
Nothing spelled out. Unlike LAX or JFK, YYZ is not the initials of a name. The "Y" is the Canadian airport prefix, and "YZ" is the inherited Malton station code. Air traffic control uses the longer ICAO code, CYYZ, where the "C" stands for Canada.
Why is it called Pearson?
The full name, Toronto Pearson International Airport, honours Lester B. Pearson (1897 to 1972): Canada's 14th prime minister and the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his peacekeeping work. The airport was renamed for him in 1984. Before that it went by Toronto International, and Malton Airport earlier still.
Is YYZ in Toronto or Mississauga?
It is physically in Mississauga, the city directly west of Toronto, even though it serves the whole Greater Toronto Area. The land sat in the old Toronto Township, which became Mississauga partly to avoid confusion with the City of Toronto. Downtown is roughly 25 to 30 km away; our guide to the cheapest way from Pearson to downtown breaks down the routes and times.
How big is Toronto Pearson?
Run by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, it is Canada's busiest airport by both passengers and aircraft movements. The site spreads across about 1,867 hectares (4,613 acres) and runs five runways with two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. There is no Terminal 2 anymore: it was demolished in 2007, and Terminal 1 grew over the ground it once held. Our terminals guide covers the layout and the free LINK Train that connects them, and our airline-by-terminal guide shows where each carrier flies from.
How many airports does Toronto have?
Two serve the city directly. Pearson (YYZ) handles almost every long-haul and international flight, while Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), out on the islands by the downtown waterfront, runs short-haul regional routes. Two more sit within driving range for cheaper fares: John C. Munro Hamilton (YHM) to the west, and Buffalo Niagara (BUF) across the U.S. border. For the rest of the practical detail, start with our Toronto Pearson guide.
