YTO: Which Airport Does This Code Represent?

YTO is not actually an airport, but rather a city code that includes four different airports in the Toronto metropolitan area. These airports are Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), Buttonville Municipal Airport (YKZ), and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM).

Each of these airports serves a different purpose, with Pearson International Airport being the main international airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport being the downtown airport focusing on regional flights.

It’s important to note that when booking a flight to Toronto, it’s crucial to double-check which airport you are flying into. Using the YTO code can be confusing, as it encompasses multiple airports. Confirming which airport you will be flying into is always best to avoid any confusion or travel mishaps.

Which Airport Is YTO Airport?

What is YTO Airport?

YTO is not a specific airport but a generic code for all the airports in the Toronto metropolitan area, including Pearson International Airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and other smaller airports.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns the YTO code to Toronto’s airports to simplify booking flights to Toronto. It is essential to note that YTO is not an official airport code, but it is used as a metro code for all airports in Toronto.

The following table shows the IATA codes and the names of the airports in Toronto:

IATA CodeAirport Name
YYZPearson International Airport
YTZBilly Bishop Toronto City Airport
YKZToronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport
YZDToronto/Downsview Airport
YHMJohn C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
YKFRegion of Waterloo International Airport

Pearson International Airport, with the IATA code YYZ, is the largest and busiest airport in Canada, serving millions of passengers annually. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, with the IATA code YTZ, is located on Toronto Island and offers flights to various destinations within Canada and the United States.

In conclusion, YTO is not a specific airport but a metro code for all airports in the Toronto area. Pearson International Airport, with the IATA code YYZ, is the main airport in Toronto.

Where Is YTO Airport Located?

The Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, is identified by the IATA code YTO, which stands for several airports. 

The airports in Waterloo, Hamilton, Mississauga (Pearson), and Toronto (Billy Bishop) are all identified by the abbreviation YTO. 

Every airport has a different code. Instead of using non-standard long-form identifiers, they are crucial to quickly distinguishing particular airports.

This is especially useful if a city has a variety of airports, which is the case in most major cities. Airports in the US would use the National Weather Service’s (NWS) two-letter city codes in the 1930s. 

However, there were more airports as air travel became more widespread, some of which were in cities without an NWS code. Thus, three-letter codes were established.

Cities frequently base their selection of codes on the first three letters of their names. The airport code may also be a string of letters that indicates that it refers to the city.

Why Is There A Y In Canadian Airport Codes?

In Canada, the majority of airport codes begin with the letter Y. It dates back to the 1930s when some principles were applied to radio transmitters or weather reporting stations.

Pearson Airport, Toronto, Canada (YTO)
Pearson Airport, Toronto, Canada (YTO)

As the number of flights increased in the 1930s, it became crucial to determine whether an airport had a weather/radio station on its grounds. This was necessary for landing safety reasons.

If it did, the existing radio call sign had the letter Y for “yes” added to the front. A W would be given for “without” if the airport’s weather station wasn’t present. 

As soon as IATA was established, all airports had to extend their two-letter codes to three letters. Due to weather reporting stations on the site, most Canadian airports had already adopted the Y for “yes.”

In YTO, Y comes from the word ‘yes’, and TO comes from ‘Toronto’. 

What Is The Closest Airport To YTO?

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ / CYTZ) is the closest significant airport. This airport is 24 kilometers from YTO and serves domestic and international flights from Toronto, Canada.

The airport’s name honors Billy Bishop, a Canadian flying ace in World War I and an air marshal in World War II. 

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ / CYYZ) is another significant airport. It has international and domestic flights from Toronto, Canada, and is 31 km from YTO.

Que at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Que at Toronto Pearson Airport

Difference Between YTO And YYZ

Airport codes can be challenging to understand. To make it simple to know where you will land when choosing these specific codes, I’ll explain the distinction between the YTO and YYZ codes.

1. YYZ code

The IATA code for the Toronto Pearson International Airport is YYZ. It’s the busiest airport in Canada and the most prominent commercial airport in Toronto is 14 miles northwest of the city center.

Address6301 Silver Dart Dr, Mississauga, Ontario L5P 1B2, Canada
Phone+1 416-776-9892
Airport CodeYYZ

2. YTO code

Toronto has multiple airports, so YTO is used for the area code, while YYZ is used for Pearson. The airports in Waterloo, Hamilton, Mississauga (Pearson), and Toronto (Billy Bishop) are all identified by the abbreviation YTO.

In case you are still confused, Toronto’s city code, YTO, does not specify an airport. However, rather than just one airport in the Toronto region, you ought to see a list of flight options when you choose that option. 

Final Remarks

The frequently asked questions on the YTO airport, the reason for the Y in codes, and YTO’s closest airport were all covered in this article.

Here’s a quick recap.

Which Airport Is YTO Airport?

For the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, the IATA code is YTO, which stands for multiple airports. Different codes are used in Canada for various airports and cities.