Metropolitan Montreal Airport – “MET” – will officially open its new terminal next week (June 15). Upon its opening, the terminal will host operations for Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation, offering flights connecting Canadian destinations from coast to coast. The terminal will also be able to accommodate other airlines in the future.
The start of commercial flights at MET – formerly Saint-Hubert Airport – will be a major asset for passengers in Greater Montreal, offering an accessible, efficient, and pleasant airport while providing competitive operating conditions for airlines. The facility further aims to become the preferred airport for direct connections using exclusively quieter and more energy-efficient single-aisle aircraft.
“For passengers in Greater Montreal, the opening of the terminal at MET will offer more travel options and allow airlines to benefit from greater airport capacity in the metropolitan area,” said Yanic Roy, President and CEO of MET – Metropolitan Montreal Airport.
A new terminal
Designed, built, and operated by Infrastructure Partners YHU, the new terminal offers a renewed vision of air travel: efficiency, comfort, and simplicity.
Passengers flying from MET will step into a unique, modern terminal featuring an open concept departure lounge with comfortable seating throughout. YHU Infrastructure Partners developed and operates the new terminal, focusing on creating a more enjoyable airport experience that puts passengers at ease. Its compact and efficient design saves travellers substantial time when departing or arriving.
“We are not just building a terminal; we are redefining the way people travel in Montreal,” said Charles Roberge, President and CEO of Terminal YHU.
“This project is the result of close collaboration with MET – Metropolitan Montreal Airport, and everything has been designed to offer passengers a smooth, efficient, and human experience that meets the expectations of today’s travelers.”
The sleek design, widely open to natural light, incorporates contemporary nods to the historic passage of the R-100 airship in 1930, whose arrival in Saint-Hubert attracted considerable crowds and symbolized the technological audacity of the time.
Inaugurated in 1927, Saint-Hubert Airport, now MET – Metropolitan Montreal Airport, is Canada’s oldest airport and was once Montreal’s main airport. It was only in 1940 that commercial flights were transferred to Dorval so the airport could fully contribute to the war effort.
Located in Longueuil on Montreal’s South Shore, the airport’s location offers a more convenient air travel option for greater than 50% of the region’s population and provides easy access to downtown and Montreal’s central neighbourhoods.
Located 15 km from downtown, MET is accessible via an extensive road network and the METbus express shuttle, which quickly connects the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke metro station to the airport’s drop-off area. The drop-off area, 500 metre long with three traffic lanes, ensures smooth vehicle circulation.
The commercial offerings at the terminal will be entirely Quebec-based and will include a Bâton Rouge restaurant, a Café Dépôt, and a shop for travel and convenience items.
Porter Airlines
Corresponding with the opening of the new terminal, Porter Airlines will begin service on June 15, with 12 routes being introduced across Canada, putting Montreal at the centre of a cross-country network, says the airline.
MET will be served by both the 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 and the 132-seat Embraer E195-E2.
Montreal has been a central part of Porter’s strategy since it began flying to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) when the airline was founded in 2006. MET’s opening allows for a rapid 91% expansion of Porter’s peak summer capacity in the region, including six new non-stop destinations. There are as many as 244 weekly departures from the city–138 from MET and 106 from YUL.
A partnership with regional airline Pascan, based at MET, also provides improved connectivity throughout Quebec’s regions and the Maritimes. Passengers are able to purchase a single ticket that includes flights on both airlines, with seamless baggage connections.
“The new MET terminal development represents an exceptional private investment in transportation infrastructure that Greater Montreal will benefit from for generations,” says Porter Airlines CEO Michael Deluce.
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