A Billy Bishop airport shuttle from TorontoAirportTransfer.services is a private car or van that drops you at, or collects you from, the mainland passenger terminal on Eireann Quay at the foot of Bathurst Street. From there you reach the island by the pedestrian tunnel or the short ferry. From Pearson, the planning figure is $145–175 in a business sedan, all-in plus HST.
Billy Bishop airport shuttle: how the island airport works for cars
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) sits on the western tip of the Toronto Islands, a few minutes from the downtown core. You cannot drive onto the island. Cars, taxis and shuttles stop at the mainland terminal on Eireann Quay, at the foot of Bathurst Street, and passengers cross the Western Channel either through the pedestrian tunnel, with moving walkways, or on the short airport ferry. The crossing takes only a few minutes either way, and luggage goes with you. That is why a "shuttle to Billy Bishop airport" really means a ride to Eireann Quay, and why the right pickup and drop-off point matters more here than at almost any other airport. The airport's own site, billybishopairport.com, publishes current access details.
Fares to and from Billy Bishop
Planning figures for one way, all-in before HST. The reservation engine quotes the exact address, date and vehicle.
| Pearson (YYZ) to Billy Bishop (YTZ) | Planning fare, one way | Seats and bags |
|---|---|---|
| Business sedan | $145–175 | 3 passengers, 3 suitcases |
| First-class sedan | $220–265 | 3 passengers, 3 suitcases |
| Executive SUV or luxury van | $180–225 | 6 passengers, 6 suitcases |
| Sprinter | $315–385 | 14 passengers, 14 suitcases |
Trips between Billy Bishop and downtown hotels, North York, Mississauga or anywhere else in the GTA are quoted to the exact address by the reservation engine before you confirm; short downtown hops cost well under the Pearson figure. The Pearson connection has its own Pearson to Billy Bishop route guide.
Toronto island airport taxi or private car?
Taxis wait at the Eireann Quay terminal and are a quick option for a short downtown hop. A private pre-booked car makes sense when you are arriving and want someone already waiting, when you are travelling with children who need car seats (taxis are exempt from Ontario's car seat rules; we are not), when you have a group and bags, or when you are heading well outside downtown, to Oakville, Markham or Pearson, and want the price fixed. It also helps on departure mornings: Eireann Quay is a narrow waterfront street, and a chauffeur who knows exactly where to stop saves time. See the flat-rate Toronto airport taxi alternative page for how our fares compare with metered cabs.
Airlines at Billy Bishop
Porter Airlines and Air Canada both operate from Billy Bishop, mostly on short-haul routes within Canada and to the United States. Porter also flies from Pearson, so double-check which Toronto airport is printed on your booking; the two are not interchangeable, and we see people head to the wrong one every month. Check your flight on flyporter.com or aircanada.com, and use our terminal finder if you are flying from Pearson instead.
Arriving at Billy Bishop: where the car meets you
After you land, you collect bags in the island terminal and cross to the mainland by tunnel or ferry. The chauffeur waits at the mainland side on Eireann Quay; we track your flight, so the timing follows the real landing, and 30 minutes of waiting is included on these domestic and short-haul arrivals (60 minutes on international arrivals from outside the US). After landing you get a message with the chauffeur's position. If you would like to be met inside the mainland terminal with a name board, add meet and greet at booking. Transborder arrivals from the United States clear customs on the island before crossing.
Departing from Billy Bishop
Because the airport is compact, departure times are shorter than at Pearson, but they are not zero. You still have to cross to the island, check in if you have bags, and clear security. Follow your airline's guidance on arrival times and allow extra time for US flights. From downtown hotels the drive is short, but the last stretch along Lakeshore Boulevard and Bathurst Street can back up badly at rush hour, during events at the Exhibition grounds and on summer weekends near the waterfront. The chauffeur allows for that when setting your pickup time. Security screening is run by CATSA.
Pearson to Billy Bishop connections
Travellers switching between Toronto's two airports, for example landing at Pearson from Europe and connecting to a Porter flight, usually find a car is the simplest link. The drive runs along the 427 and the Gardiner and takes 25 to 40 minutes outside rush hour. Tell us both flight numbers: we track the Pearson arrival and plan the drop so you reach Eireann Quay with a sensible margin. If the connection is tight, we will say so honestly and suggest options. The Billy Bishop airport guide covers the facilities in more detail.
Shuttle to Billy Bishop airport from Union Station
Union Station is close to the island airport, so many travellers walk or take transit; our guide on how to get to Billy Bishop airport covers the TTC streetcar routes and walking directions honestly. A car is worth it when you are coming off a VIA or GO train with heavy luggage, travelling with children, or it is raining sideways off the lake. We collect at Union's designated pickup points; see our Union Station page for where the car stops.
Vehicles for the island airport
A business sedan carries three passengers and three suitcases, which suits most Billy Bishop travellers flying short-haul. Families and golf groups should book an executive SUV or luxury van with six seats and six bags. For teams or tour groups, a Sprinter holds fourteen, but tell us in advance so the chauffeur can plan a stop that suits a large vehicle on Eireann Quay. First-class sedans are available for executives and guests. See the fleet for each class.
Private flights at Billy Bishop
Billy Bishop also handles business aviation. If you are flying privately, the car goes to the relevant private terminal rather than the passenger terminal, with procedures that differ from scheduled flights. See Billy Bishop FBO transfers and our private jet and FBO transfer service, and tell us the tail number and handler when you book.
Weather and the waterfront
The island airport is exposed to Lake Ontario, and fog, wind and snow squalls can delay or divert flights more often than at Pearson. When a flight diverts, message dispatch with the new airport and time; we move the pickup to Pearson or wherever you land and adjust the fare to the new route. Ferry and tunnel access both continue in bad weather, but allow a little extra time. You can check the forecast on Environment Canada.
Children, accessibility and luggage
Child seats are available on request; add them at booking. The tunnel has elevators and moving walkways, which makes it manageable for travellers with reduced mobility, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles can be arranged through our accessible transfer service. Bulky items such as bike boxes or several golf bags need a van, so list them when you book.
What the fare covers
- Chauffeur, vehicle and fuel.
- Any tolls, airport fees and gratuity.
- Flight tracking and the included waiting time.
- Help with luggage to the terminal door.
HST is shown separately. Extra waiting beyond the included time is billed in 15-minute blocks. Cancellation terms: free more than 72 hours before pickup, 10 % inside 72 hours, 50 % inside 48 hours, and 100 % inside 24 hours or for a no-show.
Pickup and drop-off on Eireann Quay
Eireann Quay is short and busy. Taxis, private cars, hotel vehicles and cyclists all share the space at the foot of Bathurst Street, and the airport sets the rules for where each can stop. On departure, the chauffeur drops you at the passenger drop-off area closest to the terminal doors and unloads the bags; there is no need to walk from a car park. On arrival, the chauffeur waits in the area allowed for pre-arranged vehicles and texts you the exact position as you come out of the tunnel or off the ferry. If the curb is congested, we may ask you to walk a few steps; we will always say where.
Tunnel or ferry: which to take
Both routes run between the mainland terminal and the island. The pedestrian tunnel is the one most travellers use: it is quick, covered, has elevators and moving walkways, and runs whenever the airport is open. The ferry is a very short crossing and some travellers prefer it, particularly with oversized bags. Neither is ticketed for airport passengers as far as we know, but check the airport's own site for current arrangements. PortsToronto, which operates the airport, publishes updates on access and construction.
Business travellers and Billy Bishop
The island airport is popular with business travellers heading to Montreal, Ottawa and US cities because it is so close to the financial district. A typical pattern is a black sedan from a Bay Street office to Eireann Quay, a same-day return flight and a car waiting that evening. Corporate accounts can book both legs at once, with the return timed to the inbound flight number. For roadshows that visit several cities in one day, dispatch can coordinate the Toronto end with our corporate car service.
Families and visitors staying on the island or waterfront
Hotels along Queens Quay and the Harbourfront are only minutes from the airport, and some visitors ask whether they need a car at all. For a couple with carry-on bags, probably not; a short walk or streetcar ride works. For a family with children, strollers and suitcases, a pre-booked van with car seats already fitted is far easier than juggling kids on a streetcar. The same applies to visitors heading to the Toronto Islands for the day, who can combine an airport pickup with a drop at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.
Connecting to Niagara, cottage country and beyond
Some travellers land at Billy Bishop and head straight out of the city: to Niagara Falls for a weekend, to Muskoka for the summer, or to Kitchener-Waterloo for business. A private car from Eireann Quay avoids a trip across downtown to Union Station and a train change. Fixed fares for these longer trips are quoted by the reservation engine; for Niagara, see the Pearson to Niagara Falls route for a sense of timing along the QEW.
Booking tips for Billy Bishop
Always enter "Billy Bishop" or "YTZ" rather than just "Toronto airport" in the booking form; a surprising number of mix-ups start there. Add the flight number so we can track it, and list any bikes, skis or golf bags. For early-morning Porter departures, book the evening before at the latest.
