Toronto’s Billy Bishop island airport got an upgrade Sunday, as the first phase of a new $50 million dollar terminal is now open to fliers.

The new space includes lounge areas, aircraft gates and passenger areas.  

Despite the recent economic contraction, the island airport has continued to expand. It now serves 12 Canadian and U.S. destinations and expects 1.3 million passengers in 2010.

Porter Airlines says it aims to begin to pre-screening its U.S. bound passengers, which will open them up to new markets which mandate security screenings prior to arrival.