In the year ahead, the ferry that serves Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will be converted from biodiesel to electric power to significantly reduce emissions and noise.SUPPLIED
September 1939 was as auspicious as it was ominous for Toronto’s Port George VI Island Airport. On September 9, its first commercial flight landed bringing famed U.S. conductor Tommy Dorsey and his swing band to the city for an engagement at the Canadian National Exhibition. The following day, Canada declared war on Germany, and the airport was soon taken over as a military training base for the duration of the conflict.
But in spite of odds that seemed stacked against commercial success back then, the airport, now named Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, flourished in the 80 years after Mr. Dorsey’s flight to become Canada’s ninth busiest airport welcoming 2.8 million passengers annually and connecting the city regionally and globally.
While its proximity to the city is a major attraction for travellers, as an urban airport located close to residential communities, it faces a bigger challenge than most airport operators. It’s a challenge that Billy Bishop manages well – an August 2018 Environics poll reported 90 per cent of Toronto residents have a favourable opinion of the airport.
That opinion is driven not only by engaging with and listening to the community, but also by the airport’s efforts to be as sustainable as possible in all its operations, says Geoffrey Wilson, CEO, PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ).
Sustainability is the cornerstone of the airport’s newly updated master plan that will guide its growth over the next 20 years.
Based on an 18-month community consultation process, the Billy Bishop Airport master plan sets the airport on a clear path for future success in the areas that are most meaningful to passengers, the community and stakeholders, says Mr. Wilson.
“The master plan incorporates much of what we heard and sets priorities to continue to build on many of the improvements we have made in the last five years, as well as set a framework for continued improvement and mitigation efforts related to concerns with noise, traffic and emissions,” he adds.
Ultimately, says Mr. Wilson, the master plan is about the implementation of policies and investment in infrastructure to ensure that investment and growth at the airport is in balance with the community while ensuring that the airport continues to make an important economic contribution to the region by making connections for business and leisure travellers.
While its location three minutes from the city core is a defining factor in YTZ’s popularity, it is also the driving force that pushes the airport’s team to innovate, collaborate and be cleaner, greener and quieter to ensure that operations are conducted in a manner that reflects balance with the surrounding city and the natural environment, he says.
Gene Cabral, executive vice president, PortsToronto and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, says noise is a unique challenge facing YTZ, which is one of the most noise-restricted airports in North America.
“Because of our location, we invest more heavily than most airports in noise mitigation,” he says. “Over the years, our dedicated noise management team has made significant headway in this area – even receiving top recognition from Airports Council International for the best noise management programming in 2017 and the best innovative practices relating to noise in 2019.”
But being sustainable goes beyond noise reduction. It ranges from the continued use of 100 per cent green electricity from Bullfrog Power – the only Canadian airport to do so – to promoting greener transit to and from the airport – 41 per cent of people depart the airport by foot, bike, TTC or complimentary shuttle to Union Station.
In the year ahead, the airport will improve its vehicle fleet and has plans underway to convert the main airport ferry, which was upgraded from diesel to biodiesel in 2018, to electric power, to significantly reduce emissions and noise, says Mr. Cabral.
“Our vision at Billy Bishop Airport is to be a global leader in how a modern airport operates in an urban environment. Through the leadership we have shown in the areas of sustainability, city building and community engagement, we believe that we are on track to one day realizing this ambitious goal,” he adds.
Produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s Editorial Department was not involved in its creation.