TORONTO, Aug. 19,
2024 /CNW/ - Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport today
released its 2023 Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Report,
which measures the airport's efforts to be cleaner, greener and
quieter and progress toward its vision to be the global leader for
how a modern airport operates in an urban environment.
This seventh annual report reflects improved data collection and
disclosures, and details performance on topics that our key
stakeholders have deemed to be most important to Billy Bishop
Toronto City Airport. It features a full-length technical report
and interactive cover report with video elements and
highlights.
"Airports play a critical role in building cities that thrive.
They connect people, ideas, goods and services, providing
communities with vital links for their economic, physical and
mental wellbeing. PortsToronto has owned and operated Billy Bishop
Toronto City Airport since 1939 – that's 85 years of serving
Toronto and serving passengers,"
said RJ Steenstra, President and Chief Executive Office of
PortsToronto.
"Our location on Toronto's
waterfront placed sustainability at the front and center of our
organization long before we formalized our ESG efforts in 2023. A
commitment to sustainable operations and responsible governance is
at the core of our mission at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Along with our partner Nieuport Aviation, PortsToronto is invested
in operating a cleaner, greener and quieter airport that will
continue to serve passengers and its community for the next 85
years," continued Steenstra.
"Over and above our geographic location in the heart of
Toronto, YTZ is making great
strides in becoming a part of the fabric of our community," says
Neil Pakey, President and CEO of
Nieuport Aviation, owner and operator of the airport's passenger
terminal. "This starts with our collective commitment to
environmental sustainability—a priority we share with other
stakeholders. It extends to our support of over 30 community
organizations and charities, our commitment to reflecting the
city's diversity through art, and our focus on our employees, the
heart and soul of our airport.
"While we've come a long way towards being a leader in the
aviation industry across these areas of focus, Nieuport Aviation,
PortsToronto and other partners at the airport recognize that we
have more to do," continued Pakey. "This report is not only a
record of where we are collectively, but it also signals our
commitment to continuous improvement for the benefit of travellers,
the community and airport employees."
Environmental Stewardship
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is powered by clean,
renewable electricity through Bullfrog Power.
- Since 2010, PortsToronto has avoided 20,231 tonnes of
CO2.
That's equivalent to:
- 4,500+ cars taken off the road for one
year.
- 9,825 hectares of forests grown for a
year.
- 766,000+ light bulbs switched to
LEDs.
- 505 tonnes of CO2
emissions offset by converting the waste generated at Billy
Bishop Toronto City Airport to energy.
- First airport in North
America to transition to PFAS-free
foam in firefighting operations.
- Forthcoming electric shuttle buses to reduce CO2
emissions associated with current diesel-powered buses.
Social Responsibility
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport invested more than
$360,000 in our communities in
2023, and has contributed $23
million in community investment and environmental
initiatives since 2009.
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport generates over
$2.1 billion in total annual
economic output and supports 4,450 jobs.
- 2,674 medevac flights operated in 2023 from the Ornge
Air Ambulance base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in
2023.
- 18% decrease in overall noise complaints in 2023,
despite increase in commercial activity over 2022.
Excellence
- Awarded an Airports Going Green Awards Honourable
Mention in recognition of project to electrify access to Billy
Bishop Toronto City Airport – including Canada's first zero-emission ferry and
forthcoming electric shuttle buses.
- 85% of Torontonians agree that Billy Bishop Toronto City
Airport plays a central role in business, health care and job
creation for the city.
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport named one of the world's
best airports by Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023.
To read the 2023 Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport ESG
report, click here.
About Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Offering
service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the U.S., with connection
opportunities to more than 100 international destinations via our
airlines' networks, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an
important international gateway that will offer US Preclearance in
2025. The airport is a key driver to Toronto's economy, generating more than
$2.1 billion in total economic output
and supporting 4,450 jobs, including 2,080 directly associated with
the airport's operations. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has
served its community for 85 years from its iconic location on the
Toronto waterfront, where it
facilitates healthcare for Ontarians by providing a base for
medevac services connected to local hospitals. Billy Bishop Toronto
City Airport is committed to achieving its vision of cleaner,
greener and quieter operations, and is renowned for its unique
travel experience, efficiency, and customer service, having won a
host of passenger-driven and environmental achievement awards.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is owned and operated by
PortsToronto.
About PortsToronto
For more than 100 years
PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal,
provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of
the City of Toronto and the
Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto
owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed
two million passengers in 2023; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of
Canada's largest freshwater
marinas; and the marine Port of Toronto that includes businesses in a variety
of sectors including marine shipping, cargo services, media
production and passenger cruises. PortsToronto is committed to
fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has
invested more than $28 million since
2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that
benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto
operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by
a board with representation from all three levels of
government.
About Nieuport Aviation
Nieuport Aviation is the owner
and operator of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City
Airport. Backed by Canadian and international pension funds and
supported by significant international expertise in managing
aviation operations, we are committed to world-class customer
service for the millions of customers using the airport. In
addition to managing the passenger terminal, Nieuport Aviation
offers passengers a free bus shuttle service between the airport
and downtown Toronto, helping to
provide a seamless travel experience. Since acquiring the airport
terminal, Nieuport has invested $60
million in upgrades, recently opening the Aspire Business
Lounge for Canadian travellers. Nieuport is further investing in
the development of the US Customs preclearance facility, to be
opened in 2025.
SOURCE Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport