Montreal Metropolitan Airport has officially opened its new passenger terminal, welcoming its first commercial flights and travellers.
Montreal Metropolitan Airport (YHU) has officially welcomed its first passengers and commercial flights, marking the start of operations at its new passenger terminal and establishing a secondary airport serving the Greater Montreal region.
The opening represents a major milestone for the airport and the wider South Shore community, providing additional capacity for airlines operating single-aisle aircraft while offering travellers an alternative gateway to the Montreal metropolitan area.
The airport’s first commercial departure, operated by Porter Airlines, departed for Vancouver and was honoured with a traditional water salute conducted by the airport fire service, a longstanding aviation custom used to celebrate significant milestones.
New terminal expands Montreal’s aviation capacity
The opening ceremony included a ribbon-cutting event attended by regional political leaders, aviation stakeholders and representatives from the tourism, transportation and business sectors.
Airport officials described the new facility as a project developed through extensive collaboration with local communities, elected representatives and industry partners.
Simon-Pierre Diamond said: “This new terminal is the result of a collaborative effort involving citizens and elected officials—an effort that began long before the groundbreaking ceremony.”
He added: “Today, we are proud to see that 80% of the population on Montreal’s South Shore supports the MET project.”
The terminal has been designed to provide a streamlined passenger experience while supporting future growth in domestic air services.
Charles Roberge said: “Today marks the culmination of an ambitious project that will bring about lasting change to air travel in the Greater Montreal area.”
He added: “From the very beginning, we wanted to create an exceptional customer experience—one that is simpler, smoother, and more human.”
Economic and regional benefits
Airport and regional leaders believe the new terminal will strengthen connectivity between Montreal, other Canadian cities and regional communities across Quebec.
Pascan Aviation announced that its commercial partnership with Porter Airlines will support expanded regional flight options from the airport.
Local officials highlighted the project’s economic impact, including infrastructure improvements and increased commercial activity across the South Shore region.
Catherine Fournier noted that the development had been undertaken alongside measures addressing community concerns, including regulated operating hours, restrictions on overnight flights, environmental monitoring and road infrastructure upgrades.
Tourism officials also welcomed the launch, citing the airport’s potential to strengthen visitor access to Quebec and support the province’s tourism sector.
The new terminal is operated by YHU Infrastructure Partners under a long-term agreement with Montreal Metropolitan Airport. The partnership combines airport operational expertise and infrastructure investment to support the facility’s long-term development.
The opening establishes Montreal Metropolitan Airport as a new component of the region’s aviation network and represents the beginning of a new phase in commercial passenger operations for the airport.
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