A new chapter in international air travel began today at Toronto Pearson with the arrival of Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380—the world’s largest passenger aircraft—marking its first-ever scheduled service to our airport.
This historic touchdown signifies a major step forward in our ongoing partnership with Etihad Airways. With 486 seats, including The Residence—the only three-room suite in the sky—the A380 brings a 31 per cent capacity increase over the previous aircraft serving the Toronto–Abu Dhabi route. This upgrade directly responds to growing demand from both business and leisure travellers looking for more comfort, choice, and seamless global connections.
Toronto alone accounts for nearly 60 per cent of Canada’s total air travel demand to the UAE, highlighting our city’s critical importance as a travel hub in the Canada–UAE corridor. The introduction of the A380 reinforces Pearson’s position as a premier North American gateway within Etihad’s global network.
This milestone also reflects the importance of Pearson LIFT, our long-term infrastructure investment strategy focused on upgrading gates, terminals, and operational readiness that will enable us to support next-generation aircrafts and world-class service.
As we celebrate this exciting moment, we’re proud to connect even more people, places, and possibilities—from Toronto to the world!