Majority of Torontonians Have Favourable View Of Popular Downtown Airport

TORONTO, April 3, 2013 /CNW/ - A vast majority of Torontonians believe Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA) is a major driver of the city's continued success and economic growth. The high favourability among the city's population combined with the airport's positive 2012 year-end results demonstrates the value of Billy Bishop Airport the City of Toronto.

According to a recent Ipsos-Reid poll, nine in ten Torontonians (87%) believe that BBTCA is a valuable asset for the city, while 84% think it's a great gateway for the city and Toronto. Along with these numbers, 83% of Torontonians also believe BBTCA is great for the economy, while 81% say it's an important part of Toronto's future economic growth.

"Torontonians from across the City love this airport, whether they live south of Queen, north of Bloor, in Scarborough or North York," said Mark McQueen, Chairman of the Toronto Port Authority. "They recognize its tremendous economic impact, convenience, as well as the competitive air fares that have resulted from the airport's recent rebirth."

Along with the Ipsos-Reid poll, the economic statistics in a recent economic study show exactly how BBTCA is contributing to the city. According to the study conducted by InterVISTAS Consulting Group, a leading management consulting company with extensive expertise in economic and transportation research, Billy Bishop plays a "significant role in providing critical regional and continental transportation linkages to support and grow Toronto's economy."

Highlights from the report include:

• $1.9 billion in direct economic output
• Approximately 5,700 jobs representing 5,400 person years of employment (1,700 of these jobs are directly associated with the airport)
• $640 million in gross domestic product (GDP)
• $290 million in wages

The Toronto Port Authority, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is building a state of the art pedestrian tunnel that, when completed in the spring of 2014, will link the popular Airport to the mainland. This tunnel will be an important, new gateway to the City providing a reliable, efficient and convenient access route for the airport's two million-plus passengers to Toronto's downtown airport.

For more information on how BBTCA is contributing to Toronto, visit www.torontoport.com.

About the Toronto Port Authority (www.torontoport.com)

The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, the Port of Toronto (Terminals 51 and 52), and Toronto's Outer Harbour Marina. In addition to moving more than two million passengers through the airport in 2012, the Port Authority provides transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port, and owns and operates Toronto's largest freshwater marina. The Toronto Port Authority was incorporated on June 8, 1999 as a government business under the Canada Marine Act as the successor to the Toronto Harbour Commissioners.

SOURCE: Toronto Port Authority

Media Contact: Pamela McDonald, Director, Communications and Public Affairs [phone] or [phone] (mobile), [email protected]