Montreal Trudeau Airport: A Sprawling Hub Of Aviation

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Montréal–Dorval International Airport, is located in Dorval, on the island of Montréal, Canada. It is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montreal and is situated 20 km (12 mi) west of Downtown Montreal. The airport is one of two managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), a not-for-profit corporation without share capital. Montréal–Trudeau is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec and the third busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, with 22.4 million passengers in 2024.

Location

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is located in the suburb of Dorval, on the island of Montréal, Quebec, Canada. The airport is about 12 miles (20 kilometres) west of Downtown Montreal and is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montreal. The airport is one of two managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), along with Montréal–Mirabel, which is located northwest of Montreal and handles cargo and private flights.

The airport is named after Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, and has the IATA code YUL and the ICAO code CYUL. The airport's address is 975 Boulevard Roméo-Vachon N, Dorval, QC H4Y 1H1, Canada.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is accessible by several bus routes, including the 204 Cardinal, 209 Des Sources, 356 Lachine/YUL Aéroport/Des Sources, and 378 Sauvé/YUL Aéroport, which provide service during the night. The 460 Express Métropolitaine route also serves the airport during rush hours. These buses provide service to the Dorval bus terminus and train station, which is within walking distance of Via's Dorval station.

In addition to bus service, the airport can also be accessed by rail. The nearest train station is Dorval station (IATA: XAX), located 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) south of the airport. This station is on the Québec City-Windsor Corridor and offers inter-city rail connections to Quebec City, Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto, as well as smaller regional centres in Quebec and Ontario. However, Via Rail does not provide a direct local service between Dorval and Montreal Central Station.

Ownership and management

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Montréal–Dorval International Airport, is owned by Transport Canada, which has a 60-year lease with Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), a not-for-profit corporation without share capital. The airport is one of two managed and operated by ADM, with the other being Montréal–Mirabel, located northwest of Montreal. Montréal–Mirabel was initially intended to replace the Montréal–Trudeau airport, but now primarily handles cargo and private flights.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is located in Dorval, on the island of Montréal, and is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montreal. The airport is approximately 12 miles west of Downtown Montreal, with its terminals located in the suburb of Dorval and one runway in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent.

The airport is named after Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, and has been managed by ADM since 1992. In the 1970s, the federal government projected that Montreal's airports would need to accommodate 20 million passengers annually by 1985, leading to the development of Montréal–Mirabel. However, Montréal–Trudeau remained in operation and underwent a significant expansion program in the late 2000s, with improvements financed by ADM itself, amounting to over CAD 1.5 billion by the end of 2007.

The modernisation plan included the expansion of the baggage claim room, the extension of baggage carousels, the relocation of car rental agencies, and the redesign of the public arrivals area. Additionally, a new corridor was constructed to connect the domestic and international arrivals halls, enhancing the airport's overall functionality. ADM also proposed the construction of a building adjacent to the transborder jetty to accommodate a new transborder departures area and a hotel.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is a crucial hub for Air Canada, serving as both its headquarters and a significant operational base. It also serves as the headquarters for Air Inuit and Air Transat, and an operational base for several other airlines. The airport facilitates flights to five continents and is one of the main gateways into Canada, with a significant proportion of its passengers on non-domestic flights.

Passenger capacity

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Montréal–Dorval International Airport, is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec and the third busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic. The airport is located in the suburb of Dorval, 20 km (12 mi) west of Downtown Montreal, and is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montreal.

The airport has undergone several expansion and modernisation projects to increase its passenger capacity. In 2005, the airport handled 10,892,778 passengers, and the expansion program aimed to increase the capacity to 20 million passengers per year. This included the construction of a jetty for flights to the US, another for international destinations, and an international arrivals complex. The Transborder Concourse, with 18 gates, opened in 2003, followed by the 11-gate International Concourse in 2004. The expansion also included a new customs hall, an expanded parking garage, and additional retail space for the domestic area in 2007.

In 2019, the airport served 20.3 million passengers, with 13.1 million, or 65% of them, on non-domestic flights—the highest proportion among Canadian airports that year. On average, 58,000 passengers transit through the airport daily. The route between Montreal and Paris is Canada's busiest international route and the sixth busiest from North America, with over 1.5 million passengers annually.

The airport continues to expand and modernise its facilities. A new corridor linking the domestic and international arrivals halls opened in 2006, improving connectivity and passenger flow. A new transborder departures area and a hotel are also in the works. Additionally, the airport is undergoing a massive expansion project until 2030, with the first phase including the rebuilding of the multi-level parking lot with a green roof and the Montreal-Trudeau Airport REM station underneath.

Transport connections

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is located in Dorval, on the island of Montréal, and is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montréal. It is situated 20 km (12 mi) west of Downtown Montréal. The airport terminals are located entirely in the suburb of Dorval, while one runway is located in the Montréal borough of Saint-Laurent.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is accessible by six bus routes operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM). These include one dedicated airport transfer service, one express route, two regular daytime routes, and two night buses. The 24-hour, 747 Montréal-Trudeau/Downtown route connects the airport to Lionel-Groulx metro station, Central Station, Berri-UQAM metro station, and the city centre. The route runs between YUL Montréal-Trudeau Airport, Lionel-Groulx, and Berri-UQAM métro stations and the Gare d'Autocars de Montréal. The fare is $11 per person and gives a 24-hour pass for the bus, métro, exo train, and REM in Zone A. In addition to the 747, Montréal–Trudeau is accessible by the 204 Cardinal and 209 Des Sources everyday routes, while the 356 Lachine/YUL Aéroport/Des Sources and 378 Sauvé/YUL Aéroport serve the airport during night service hours.

Along with traditional taxis, limousines are also available for travellers needing transport into the city. Travellers can find a limousine or taxi at the arrivals level near the central exit, where a dispatcher will assist them. For those on a budget, the public bus service, 747, is available 24/7. The bus provides a direct line between the airport and downtown Montréal, stopping at several metro stations and hotels. The journey time is approximately 25-35 minutes to the Lionel-Groulx metro station and 45-70 minutes to the Berri-UQÀM station, depending on traffic.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is also undergoing several infrastructure projects to improve transport connections. ADM and VIA Rail are planning to build a 5km connector loop and a new rail station near the Montréal-Trudeau terminal so that trains from Ottawa and Toronto-Kingston can serve the airport directly. Additionally, ADM is planning to introduce an express rail shuttle service to accelerate access to the airport from downtown Montréal. This 20km-long shuttle would share the existing inter-city rail infrastructure.

Airlines and destinations

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Montréal–Dorval International Airport, is located in Dorval, on the island of Montréal, Quebec, Canada. It is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montreal and is situated 20 km (12 mi) west of Downtown Montreal. The airport is one of two managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), along with Montréal–Mirabel, which primarily handles cargo and private flights.

Trudeau Airport is the third busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, with 22.4 million passengers in 2024. It is one of eight Canadian airports with United States border preclearance and serves as a gateway to the country, with 71% of its passengers on non-domestic flights. The route between Montreal and Paris is Canada's busiest international route, with over 1.5 million passengers annually.

The airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including Air Canada, Air Inuit, and Air Transat. It is also an operating base for Sunwing Airlines and Porter Airlines. Air Canada, the country's largest airline, has its corporate headquarters at the airport, along with Air Inuit and Air Transat.

Airlines servicing Trudeau Airport offer year-round, non-stop flights to nearly 150 destinations across five continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. This extensive network makes Montreal accessible within one or two flights for millions of people worldwide.

In addition to its flight offerings, the airport provides convenient transportation options. It is accessible by six bus routes, including a free shuttle bus to Dorval station for Via Rail passengers. There are also limousine services available at the terminal, and a Marriott hotel located beside the USA departures terminal for added convenience.

Frequently asked questions