Montreal's Airport Options: How Many Are There?

Montreal is a city with plenty to offer tourists, from cultural events to great food. It is conveniently located close to Quebec and Ottawa, as well as northern New York and Vermont. With so much around, Montreal has become a tourist haven. There are several airports in and around Montreal that cater to tourists and locals alike.

Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

The airport is a hub for Air Canada and Air Transat and a focus city for Air Inuit, Porter Airlines, and Sunwing Airlines. Airlines servicing the airport offer year-round non-stop flights to five continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. It is one of only two airports in Canada with non-stop flights to five continents, the other being Toronto Pearson International Airport. The airport is also the headquarters of Air Inuit and Air Transat and an operations base for Sunwing Airlines and Porter Airlines.

The airport is accessible by several bus routes operated by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) and is connected to the nearby Dorval train station via a shuttle bus. A project to connect the airport to Montréal downtown via express trains is currently in development.

Montréal–Mirabel International Airport

The airport opened in 1975 and had the largest surface area of any airport in the world. It was supposed to accommodate nearly 40 million passengers per year by the year 2000. However, several factors contributed to its decline, including its distance from downtown Montreal and the lack of access routes.

In 2004, the airport stopped handling passenger flights. Today, it is used for cargo flights, general aviation, and as a centre for Quebec's aerospace industry. The former passenger terminal apron is now a racing course, and the terminal building was demolished in 2016.

Despite no longer serving commercial passenger flights, Montréal–Mirabel International Airport has seen a resurgence in air traffic in recent years, with private passenger flights, helicopter flights, and flight schools contributing to a tripling of air traffic between 2008 and 2018. This has led to the refurbishment and reopening of the airport's air traffic control tower.

The airport plays a significant role in the aerospace industry, serving as a manufacturing base for Airbus Canada and housing facilities for companies such as Bombardier Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Stelia Aerospace.

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport

The history of the airport dates back to 1939, a year after the closure of the Aérodrome Saint-Louis. Initially established as a training facility for air observers, the airport witnessed its first flight on September 11, 1941. Over the years, it has undergone several name changes, including Aéroport de l'Ancienne Lorette, Aéroport de Sainte-Foy, and Aéroport de Québec, before being renamed Aéroport international Jean-Lesage in 1993 to honour Jean Lesage, the former Premier of Quebec.

The airport has undergone significant modernisation and expansion projects to enhance its capacity and passenger services. The terminal building has been expanded to accommodate 1.4 million passengers annually, with plans to further increase this capacity to 24 gates by 2025. The airport features dedicated baggage carousels, an improved customs area, an expanded food court, and a larger capacity baggage area. It also offers a family zone with a soft play area for children and a luxury VIP lounge.

Plattsburgh International Airport

The airport is located at the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and has been owned by Clinton County since 2002. The airport's facilities include a 11,759-foot (3,584 m) runway and a 12,000,000-square-foot (1,100,000 m2) concrete ramp for cargo and aircraft. It has a 35,300-square-foot passenger terminal building that opened in 2007. The airport has no night curfews or flight restrictions and is served by Contour Airlines, which offers 12 weekly flights to Philadelphia. Other airlines that serve the airport include Allegiant, PenAir, and Spirit Airlines.

The airport is a multi-purpose aviation and aerospace complex serving the entire Plattsburgh, Montreal, and Lake Placid Region, including northern New York State, southern Quebec, and Vermont, nestled on the Adirondack Coast. The Adirondack Coast stretches across the western shores of Lake Champlain, shouldered by New York's Adirondack Mountains and the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Burlington International Airport

The airport is northern New England's most convenient and welcoming airport. The terminal is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is located adjacent to Burlington. It is only an hour away from five world-class mountain resorts, making it a popular choice for both business and leisure travellers. The airport is known for its friendliness, excellent on-schedule record, and direct flights to many major cities.

There are several options for travelling from Burlington International Airport to Montreal. The cheapest and fastest option is to drive, which takes about two hours and costs $23-$35. It is also possible to take a bus or a town car, although these options take longer and are more expensive.

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