What to know
- Pearson ranks as the worst among 35 Canadian airports in a new analysis of over 150,000 Google reviews.
- The biggest traveller complaints are congestion, pricey food and drinks, and long security lines, some over two hours.
- Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto ranks second-best in the country, thanks to quicker security and less congestion.
- Smaller airports generally score higher, with an expert suggesting travellers use them when possible and allow extra time at big hubs like Pearson.
From heavy traffic on the way in to long security lines, flying out of Toronto Pearson can feel like a nightmare. And now data backs that up, ranking it as the worst airport in the country.
Experts at SEO Backlinks pulled data from 156,552 Google reviews, showing Toronto Pearson averages 3.76 stars across 48,591 reviews, the lowest rating of the 35 airports in the ranking.
Reviewers’ most common complaints include congestion, food and drink prices and long security lines.
“Pickup and arrival at T1 was a nightmare,” one Pearson traveller wrote this week.
“Crazy expensive to purchase food or drinks,” another complained.
“Security line took two hours and 20 minutes,” another traveller wrote.
Meanwhile, Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport ranked second best in Canada, with an average of 4.44 stars.
“It’s less congested and smaller than Pearson, so you get out of there faster,” one traveller commented.
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“Reading the reviews at the bottom, the complaints are about the whole trip, not just the flight. They mention lineups at security and customs, construction, chaos at the pickup lanes and paying a fortune for a sandwich. The smaller airports win because you’re through security in minutes,” Olivia Weston, founder of SEO Backlinks, said in a press release.
“If you’ve got the choice of a smaller airport nearby, the reviews suggest it’s worth a look, and if you can’t avoid the big ones, give yourself more time than you think you need,” she suggests.
What are the worst and best Canadian airports?
The rank of the worst airports and their average stars were as follows:
- Toronto Pearson International Airport, ON: 3.76 (48,591 reviews)
- Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, QC: 3.78 (22,188 reviews)
- Prince George International Airport, BC: 3.80 (517 reviews)
- Yellowknife Airport, NT: 3.95 (594 reviews)
- Northwest Regional Airport Terrace-Kitimat, BC: 4.03 (371 reviews)
- Grande Prairie Airport, AB: 4.04 (345 reviews)
- Abbotsford International Airport, BC: 4.05 (1,961 reviews)
- Kelowna International Airport, BC: 4.08 (1,972 reviews)
- Calgary International Airport, AB: 4.08 (14,559 reviews)
- Fort McMurray International Airport, AB: 4.08 (383 reviews)
Best airports rank as follows:
- Gander International Airport, NL: 4.50 (316 reviews)
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, ON: 4.44 (3,005 reviews)
- Deer Lake Regional Airport, NL: 4.41 (383 reviews)
- Comox Valley Airport, BC: 4.35 (489 reviews)
- Saint John Airport, NB: 4.34 (413 reviews)
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport, NS: 4.33 (4,398 reviews)
- Nanaimo Airport, BC: 4.31 (549 reviews)
- Vancouver International Airport, BC: 4.29 (23,513 reviews)
- Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, MB: 4.28 (3,430 reviews)
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, QC: 4.28 (2,435 reviews)
