Florida is a popular vacation destination for many Canadians looking to escape the cold winter weather. With sunny beaches, theme parks, and warm temperatures year-round, it’s no wonder why Floridian cities like Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale attract millions of tourists annually. For Canadians in Toronto looking to book a flight south, there are many airline options to choose from.
Direct flights from Toronto to Florida
The major airports in the Toronto area are Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Toronto Pearson offers direct flights to a number of Florida airports:
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
Billy Bishop Airport has direct flights to Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB).
Airlines offering direct Toronto to Florida flights
Here are the airlines operating direct flights from Toronto to Florida airports:
Airline | Florida Airports Served |
---|---|
Air Canada | Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa |
Air Canada Rouge | Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa |
American Airlines | Miami, Orlando |
Delta Air Lines | Orlando |
Porter Airlines | Orlando Sanford |
Sunwing Airlines | Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa |
WestJet | Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa |
As you can see, the major domestic and international carriers like Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, and WestJet offer direct flights from Toronto Pearson Airport to the main Florida destinations. Air Canada also operates some direct flights through its leisure subsidiary Air Canada Rouge. Meanwhile, Porter Airlines is the only airline with direct flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, flying to Orlando Sanford on a seasonal basis.
Connecting flights to other Florida airports
In addition to the major airports, travelers can also find connecting flight options to other Florida airports like:
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers
- Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) in Sarasota/Bradenton
- Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) in Fort Walton Beach
- Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in Jacksonville
Connecting through a U.S. hub city like Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Charlotte, or Philadelphia can provide indirect routing to airports throughout Florida. Some of the airlines offering connecting flights from Toronto Pearson include:
- Air Canada via U.S. hubs
- United Airlines via Chicago-O’Hare, Washington Dulles
- American Airlines via Philadelphia
- Delta Air Lines via Atlanta
The benefit of a direct flight is you avoid having to change planes and can get straight to your Florida destination. However, connecting itineraries may be more affordable or convenient depending on schedules and availability.
Best time of year for cheap Florida flights
Since Florida is a peak winter travel destination for Canadians, you’ll typically find the most expensive airfares around the holidays and spring break season:
- December to mid-January
- March Spring Break weeks
If your schedule is flexible, aim to travel during Florida’s shoulder seasons in late August to November or mid-January to April (excluding Spring Break) when flight prices are lower and the weather is still pleasant.
Some of the best airfare sales pop up around the following times:
- Early January after the New Year’s rush
- September after Labor Day/kids back in school
- October through early December for pre-holiday sales
Signing up for airline email alerts and flash sales can help you snag some great last minute deals too.
Tips for finding cheap Toronto to Florida flights
Here are some tips to get you the best value on your next flight from Toronto to Florida:
- Book early – Fares are lowest 2-3 months in advance
- Be flexible with travel dates if possible – Move your trip a day or two and save significantly
- Consider nearby alternative airports – Flying into Tampa instead of Orlando may be cheaper
- Check multiple airlines – Don’t just look at major carriers, search budget airlines too
- Use flight comparison sites like Expedia, Google Flights, Skyscanner to find deals across airlines and dates
- Sign up for email alerts – Get notifications when airfare sales are released
- Fly midweek – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday flights are generally cheaper than weekends
- Consider budget airlines – Flair, Swoop, and Sunwing offer cheaper base fares
A bit of advanced planning and research can lead to excellent airfare bargains from Toronto to popular Florida destinations. Avoiding school holidays and being flexible with your travel schedule will also keep costs down.
Nonstop flight options from Toronto to Florida
For travelers who want to get to Florida quickly, nonstop flights eliminate the hassle of a layover. Here are some of the nonstop options available from Toronto airports:
From Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
- Air Canada – Daily nonstops to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa
- Air Canada Rouge – Multiple weekly nonstops to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa
- American Airlines – Daily nonstop to Miami
- Sunwing – Multiple weekly nonstops to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
- WestJet – Multiple weekly nonstops to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa
From Billy Bishop City Airport (YTZ)
- Porter Airlines – Multiple weekly nonstops to Orlando Sanford (seasonal service)
When booking, pay attention to the nonstop filter option to easily see all the direct routing available. This avoids connections and long layovers on your way to Florida.
Popular Florida destinations from Toronto
Wondering which Florida cities Canadians visit most? Here are four of the top Florida destinations with direct flights from Toronto:
Orlando
As the theme park capital of the world, Orlando is hugely popular with families. Fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO) for easy access to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND. There are nonstop flights on Air Canada, WestJet, Delta, and Sunwing.
Miami
Miami’s beautiful beaches, buzzing nightlife, and Latin culture draw sun-seekers. It’s a leading gateway to cruising and trips south to the Florida Keys. You’ll land at Miami International Airport (MIA) and find direct flights via Air Canada and American Airlines from Toronto.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is known for its beaches, boating waterways, and top-ranked golf courses. Fly into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) nonstop with Air Canada, WestJet, Air Canada Rouge, and Sunwing.
Tampa
Tampa offers great weather, outdoor attractions like Busch Gardens, and excellent dining and nightlife. Tampa International Airport (TPA) is the closest major airport with nonstops available on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Sunwing, and WestJet.
For a fun-filled Florida vacation, look for nonstop flights from Toronto to these popular destinations. Orlando and Miami are geared more towards families and nightlife while Fort Lauderdale and Tampa offer a more relaxed vibe.
Top Florida airports with Toronto nonstop flights
To help narrow your Florida airport options, these four airports have the most nonstop flights from Toronto:
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Nonstop flights available on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, WestJet, Delta, Sunwing
- Distance from Toronto: 2,171 km / 1,349 miles
- Major airlines: Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, American
Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Nonstop flights on Air Canada and American Airlines
- Distance from Toronto: 2,583 km / 1,604 miles
- Major airlines: American, Delta, Frontier, Spirit
Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL)
- Nonstops offered by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, WestJet, Sunwing
- Distance from Toronto: 2,547 km / 1,584 miles
- Major airlines: JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, Spirit
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Nonstops available on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Sunwing, WestJet
- Distance from Toronto: 2,374 km / 1,476 miles
- Major airlines: Southwest, Delta, American, JetBlue
All four airports have plenty of nonstop options from Toronto on both major and discount airlines. Orlando tends to have the most flight availability. When searching for flights, be sure to check fares and schedules across these top airports.
Tips for getting through security quickly in Florida airports
Florida airports can be quite busy, particularly during peak travel periods. Here are some tips for saving time at airport security when departing Florida:
- Check TSA wait times online and arrive early during busy times
- Print boarding passes in advance or use electronic boarding passes on your phone
- Put belongings in carry-on in easy-to-scan bins, avoiding messy bags
- Have ID and boarding pass ready for checking
- Wear slip-on shoes to save time removing footwear
- Only bring essential toiletries in 3 oz bottles in a quart-sized bag
- Unpack laptops and tablets so they can be scanned separately
- Don’t overstuff carry-on bags – underpacking helps speed the process
- Enroll in TSA PreCheck or Clear to use expedited security lanes
By arriving prepared at security with proper documents ready, unpacking your bag intelligently, and not overpacking, you can minimize wait times and stress heading home from Florida.
Conclusion
Planning a Florida getaway from Toronto has never been easier. Air Canada, WestJet, American, Sunwing, Delta and more offer direct flights to major Florida airports like Orlando, Miami, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale. Pay attention to flight schedules and airfare sales to secure the best value. Try to fly midweek and during shoulder seasons for cheaper pricing. For hassle-free travel, book a nonstop flight to your chosen Florida destination. Whichever sunny city you choose, safe travels and enjoy your Florida vacation!