Why is Toronto airport called Pearson?

It is the main airport serving Toronto, its metropolitan area, and the surrounding region known as the Golden Horseshoe. The airport is named in honour of Lester B. Pearson, who served as the 14th Prime minister of Canada and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his humanitarian work in peacekeeping.



Toronto’s main international airport (YYZ) is named in honor of Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada. The facility was officially renamed "Lester B. Pearson International Airport" on January 2, 1984, to commemorate the Toronto-born statesman who won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in resolving the Suez Crisis through the creation of the first UN Peacekeeping force. Before the name change, it was simply known as "Toronto International Airport," and before that, "Malton Airport" due to its location in the town of Malton. Pearson is Canada’s largest and busiest airport, serving as the primary gateway for the Golden Horseshoe region. Interestingly, while the airport is named after Pearson, its famous IATA code "YYZ" actually predates the naming; it originated from the railway station code for Malton. In 2026, the airport continues to be a central hub for Air Canada and WestJet, maintaining the legacy of the man who is also credited with introducing Canada’s iconic maple leaf flag during his time as Prime Minister in the mid-1960s.

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Most Beautiful Airports of the World
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Want To Know Why Toronto Is Called “The 6”? The reason Toronto is called “The 6” / “6” / “6ix” is because of the six municipalities making up Metro Toronto before they were all joined in 1998. Further, the name (annoying as it may be) is also derived from the main area code in Toronto, 416.

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The airport is named in honour of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada and father of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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