The Canadian International Air Show takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada over Lake Ontario at the waterfront grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). It can be best viewed from the Canadian National Exhibition Grounds, Ontario Place and many other lakefront sites with a view of the water in front of Marilyn Bell Park in west Toronto. 

Admission to the Canadian International Air Show is complimentary with your CNE and Ontario Place pass.  Please visit the following links for details on admission to the CNE and Ontario Place:

Canadian National Exhibition Admission Information

Ontario Place Admission Information

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and Ontario Place are also easily accessible via the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) by taking the 511 Bathurst Streetcar, the 29 Dufferin Bus, or at the Exhibition Stop on the GO Train. For more information, please call the TTC at (416) 393-INFO or GO Transit at (416) 869-3200.

You CANNOT buy tickets to the Canadian International Air Show. The show is featured as the grand finale of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and is included with the price of your admission the the CNE grounds.

Ontario Place has offered seating on top of their "Pods" for a fee in the past. Please check their website or call them for details at www.ontarioplace.com to see if space is available for this year.

You may watch the show from many points along the lakefront but the best viewing is from CNE and Ontario Place. If you plan to watch from Ontario Place or the CNE grounds you will be charged for admission.

Flying in the Toronto area during labor day weekend...

During Labour Day Weekend, the air show area is restricted by NOTAM. The NOTAM is available from flight service in the days leading up to Labour Day Weekend. While NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES, last year's NOTAM read:

CYTZ
TORONTO FIR

PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.1 OF THE AERONAUTICS ACT, AIRSPACE IS RESTRICTED SFC TO 10000 FT MSL WITHIN 5 NM RADIUS CENTERED ON 433727N 792541W (CNE GROUNDS, APRX 1.5 NM W AIRPORT). EXCEPT FOR CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW PARTICIPANTS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL/RESCUE ACFT NO PERSON SHALL OPR AN ACFT WITHIN THE AREA DESCRIBED UNLESS AUTH BY THE AIRSHOW AIRBOSS AT 416-917-4681.

0609011300 TIL 0609011630 Local
DAILY 1230/1700 Local

The "Air Box" - The air show takes place inside an area called the air box. Although at times during the show some aircraft move outside this box, this is only so they can reposition to accommodate their performance inside the box. This box is 6,000 feet long by 3,000 ft wide and 4,000 ft high. During show times, this area is kept "sterile" and only boats and people or aircraft specifically cleared into this space are allowed to be there during any performance. Only "essential" personnel will be cleared into the space. Inside this box there is a high speed flightline (1,500 ft from any spectators) where the fast aircraft perform and a slow speed flightline (600 feet from any spectator) where slower aircraft perform. A representation of the air box is located at the bottom of this page.

Show safety - The Canadian International Air Show enlists the skills of an "Air Boss". The Air Boss is specifically trained to act in this capacity and has extensive experience with aircraft and flying. This person's responsibility is to ensure the safety of the show and the performers at all times. If at any time the Air Boss believes that a situation which could jeopardize the safety of the show, the spectators, the aircraft or performers is developing, the Air Boss has the authority to immediately stop any performance and put the entire show on hold. This could include weather factors such as cloud or visibility, unauthorized persons or aircraft in the 5 nautical miles zone or air box, incoming MedEvac flights (MedEvac flights ALWAYS take priority over the air show) or many other factors. The Air Boss is located at Boss Control with an unobstructed view of the air box. Since the Air Boss job is so critical, during the show this person is advised by up to seven people who are located on the same platform. These people are Military advisors who are specifically trained to understand the factors affecting military aircraft, Nav Canada staff who have access to radar information and coordinate with air traffic control from Pearson and City Centre airports, Transport Canada personnel who can advise on regulations and civilian aircraft safety, and the CIAS' Emergency Response committee who are specifically trained Search and Rescue Personnel as well as a Flight Surgeon. In Canada, no aircraft is permitted to perform any aerobatic maneuver during an air show where the inertia of the aircraft could carry the aircraft into any spectator area.