Toronto Pearson Airport Unveils Strategy to Handle Winter Weather

Toronto Pearson Airport is ready to handle the looming snow, ice, and sleet.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), the organization that manages Pearson, is heading into winter with 15 snow blowers, 44 snow plows, and approximately 180 staff – all to keep the runways clear and the flights on schedule.

At a media briefing on Tuesday, Toronto Pearson officials told the press that the airport had prepared for the upcoming winter season with new staff and equipment.

“We can’t do much about the snow itself, but we can be prepared and that’s really our mantra,” said Todd Browne, associate director of airfield operations.

“Unlike municipalities who sometimes wait until there’s some snow on the ground. Our approach is as soon as that first snowflake is falling, we’re out there trying to make sure that it’s a safe and operational space for passengers” (via CityNews).

Browne said 17 new hires had been added to the approximately 180 staff responsible for clearing five million square metres of runways, aprons, and taxiways.

“The last couple years we’ve had a little bit … heavier, wetter snow (and) more snow at once, which is much harder for us to clear,” said Browne. “We have upped our staffing levels a little bit and also made those purchases on those big snow blowers and some of our large loaders … more pushing power, more blowing power to try to put up with that.”

Toronto Pearson is Canada’s busiest air hub, seeing up to 900,000 passengers a week. According to the GTAA, traffic in 2023 totalled 44.8 million – up from 35.6 million the year before.

The airport posted a graphic on social media breaking down its total fleet of 161 snow removal vehicles. 

“With a total fleet of 161 specialized snow-removing equipment ready to jump into action at a moment’s notice, we are ready to safely keep aircraft and travellers moving to destinations around the world,” Toronto Pearson posted on X.

“Before the first snowflakes hit the ground, our Surface Maintenance Specialists are already prepared to sweep, plow and blow roughly 5,000,000 square metres of surface space to keep planes moving safely.”