Greater Montréal officially became a two-airport city on 15 June when the MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport in Longueuil handled its first scheduled flights. Porter Airlines’ inaugural service to Vancouver received a traditional water-cannon salute, and regional carrier Pascan Aviation launched new Quebec routes from the same YHU Terminal. The privately financed terminal, operated by YHU Infrastructure Partners (a joint venture between Porter Aviation Holdings and Macquarie Asset Management), is designed to handle up to two million passengers a year with a curb-to-gate walking time of under eight minutes. Unlike Montréal-Trudeau (YUL), MET restricts night operations and targets point-to-point markets served by single-aisle aircraft. For business travellers and global mobility teams, the opening means additional nonstop options between Montréal’s South Shore and major Canadian cities such as Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax, with connecting itineraries via Porter’s hub at Toronto – Billy Bishop. Travel-time savings for companies based in Longueuil’s aerospace corridor could top an hour per trip compared with the cross-town trek to YUL. Local officials tout wider economic benefits: the project has already triggered $8.2 million in road upgrades and is expected to add $6 million a year in municipal tax revenue. Crucially for expatriate managers, the terminal includes on-site NEXUS enrolment kiosks and a dedicated immigration inspection area operated by the Canada Border Services Agency, promising shorter line-ups for frequent travellers once international services commence in 2027. Airlines and corporate travel buyers will watch load factors closely over the next six months; if passenger uptake is strong, MET could attract additional carriers—including low-cost transborder operators—further diversifying Montréal’s air-service portfolio.
Source: Globe Newswire / StreetInsider
