2.7M travellers will use Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario during holidays

Some 2.7 million travellers are expected to move through Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga in the next two-plus weeks as Canada’s biggest and busiest airport gets even busier during the holidays.

During that same period, from Dec. 20 through Jan. 6, airport officials say roughly 16,600 aircraft movements — takeoffs and landings — will be recorded at Pearson as millions of travellers arrive in the Greater Toronto Area for the holidays or depart for an array of domestic and international destinations.

“The holiday season is fast approaching, which means we are seeing some of the busiest travel days of the year,” Pearson officials said in a post this week to social media.

That number of aircraft movements translates to about 1,000 incoming and outbound flights each day at Pearson.

On Wednesday, airport officials said they were anticipating some 130,000 travellers would use Pearson — around 8,000 people more than on a normal day — as many people made their way to and from their destinations a week in advance of Christmas Day.

Still interested in more numbers? Pearson has some.

Airport officials say along with the increase in travellers during the holidays comes, as expected, a significant uptick in the number of luggage pieces checked.

“Last year, we processed 2.27 million checked bags over the holidays between Dec. 13 and Jan. 6 and this year we can expect over 2.75 million checked baggage for the month of December,” officials said, adding travellers’ checked luggage takes a ride on conveyor belts that move bags and suitcases some 30 kilometres behind the scenes at the airport before they’re picked up by baggage handlers and loaded onto the aircraft.

In an effort to make the travel experience better for passengers, airport officials suggest using the latest in air travel technology to move people along more quickly.

“While we always recommend using our digital tools, it’s even more important during our busiest periods,” Pearson officials say.

For those flying over the holidays, here are a few things suggested by airport officials to help get through the airport faster:

• check out Pearson’s live wait times dashboard
• reserve your parking spot at the airport ahead of time
• use Mobile Passport Control
• use Advance Declaration

(Cover photo: Toronto Pearson Airport)