Downsview Airport, airport
Downsview Airport is an airfield in Ontario that opened in 1929 and operated for nearly a century as a hub for aviation. The site features a main runway over 7,000 feet long, large hangars, and industrial buildings that supported aircraft manufacturing and testing operations.
The site was established as an airfield in 1929 and quickly became a center for Canadian aircraft manufacturing under De Havilland. During and after World War II, it served as the military RCAF Station Downsview, later transforming into a major aircraft assembly and testing facility with Bombardier before closing in 2024.
The airport was a center of aircraft manufacturing and testing for much of the 20th century, shaping the local identity. The remaining hangars and open spaces today still reflect this industrial heritage and the skilled work that took place there.
The site sits on flat, open land that makes it easy to navigate on foot and view the large hangars and industrial structures. Since the airport closed in 2024, the area is no longer active for flight operations, and visitors should be aware that it is transitioning into a development project.
Downsview was home to the assembly of several famous aircraft types, including Bombardier's Dash 8 and Global Jets that flew worldwide routes. Lesser known is that the site also supported space programs, with preparation work done here for Canada's first satellite, Alouette 1, launched in the early 1960s.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
