Estimated reading time 5 minutes, 19 seconds.
At the annual Airports Going Green Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) was awarded a 2023 Airports Going Green Honorable Mention in recognition of its project to make access to Billy Bishop Airport electric, representing outstanding achievement in pursuit of sustainability within the aviation industry.
The Airports Going Green (AGG) Conference is the industry’s leading sustainability forum, bringing together aviation sustainability leaders, experts, and innovators from around the world.
Each year at the conference, award recognition is given to the projects, programs, or individuals who have demonstrated innovation and leadership in sustainability within the aviation industry.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by Airports Going Green – the aviation industry’s leading sustainability forum,” said RJ Steenstra, president and chief executive officer of PortsToronto, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
“With a long-term focus on sustainability, PortsToronto and Nieuport Aviation acted on the opportunity to invest in an innovative project that would significantly reduce the impact of airport operations in the surrounding community — making access to the airport electric. We are thrilled to be able to share our experience more broadly and encourage others in the industry to incorporate the wider airport ecosystem in sustainability planning.”
“Reflecting the wants and needs of our communities, Nieuport Aviation and PortsToronto are well aligned in our vision of operating a cleaner, greener, and quieter airport for Toronto, Ontario, and Canada,” said Neil Pakey, president and CEO of Nieuport Aviation.
“This recognition from Airports Going Green is testament to the fact that convenience, choice and sustainability are not mutually exclusive—quite the opposite, in fact; they’re all on offer for our valued passengers.”
Fast facts
- The conversion of the Marilyn Bell to electric power reduces the airport’s direct emissions by approximately 530 tonnes per year.
- When operational, Billy Bishop Airport’s new electric shuttle buses are expected to cleanly and quietly transport over 500,000 passengers to and from the airport per year.
- Billy Bishop Airport’s partnership with Bullfrog Power has kept Scope 2 emissions at zero for more than a decade.
- Estimates indicate that Billy Bishop Airport’s forthcoming fleet of six electric buses will remove approximately 2,100 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.
- Efforts to encourage alternative transportation to and from Billy Bishop Airport have been successful, with 41 per cent of passengers choosing to walk, bike, take the shuttle or public transit from the airport.
- The reduction in vehicle traffic to the airport has afforded Billy Bishop Airport the opportunity to reduce the footprint of vehicle access areas, including the adjacent Bathurst Quay/Canada Malting Silos site, which is being transformed into a vibrant community space and park located right at the airport’s doorstep.
Learn more about the project here.
This press release was prepared and distributed by PortsToronto.
