Montreal Airport: Navigating Efficiently Through Multiple Gates

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Montréal–Dorval International Airport, is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. It is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montreal and is situated 20 kilometres west of Downtown Montreal. The airport has undergone several expansion projects over the years to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. The airport features a two-storey terminal divided into four distinct zones: the public area, the domestic jetty, the international jetty, and the transborder jetty. The domestic jetty has 26 gates, the international jetty has 18 gates, and the transborder jetty, dedicated to U.S.-bound flights, also has 18 gates.

The airport has 3 concourse areas

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) has three concourse areas. The airport features a two-storey terminal divided into four distinct zones: the public area, the domestic jetty, the international jetty, and the transborder jetty.

The public area is located on both the departures and arrivals levels, and includes dedicated sections for check-in based on the destination. It has self-service check-in kiosks, shops, cafes, and amenities such as free Wi-Fi, luggage trolleys, ATMs, and nursing rooms.

The domestic jetty is accessible via security checkpoint A and has 26 gates. It is split into a satellite jetty and a main terminal wing. The satellite jetty, which has 10 gates, is connected to the main terminal by a tunnel. The main jetty holds 16 gates: 1 through 12, 15, and 47 through 49.

The international jetty is also accessed through security checkpoint A and serves flights outside Canada and the United States. It has 18 gates: 50 through 53 and 55 through 68. This concourse offers a variety of shopping and dining options, as well as relaxation spaces with natural light and artistic installations.

The transborder jetty is dedicated to U.S.-bound flights and has 18 gates: 72 through 89. Passengers travelling to the U.S. must clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection after passing through security checkpoint C. This concourse features shops, restaurants, and rest zones, and some gates can be isolated to offer additional security checkpoints if needed.

It's divided into 4 zones

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport has one two-storey terminal building, divided into four distinct zones: the public area, the domestic jetty, the international jetty, and the transborder jetty.

The public area is located on both the departures and arrivals levels, with dedicated sections for checking in based on the destination. It includes self-service check-in kiosks, shops, cafes, and amenities such as free Wi-Fi, luggage trolleys, ATMs, and nursing rooms.

The domestic jetty is accessible via security checkpoint A and is split into two parts: a satellite jetty connected by a tunnel to the main terminal and a wing attached to the main terminal building. It comprises 26 gates, with the satellite jetty holding 10 gates and the main jetty holding 16.

The international jetty is also accessed through security checkpoint A and serves flights outside Canada and the United States. It includes 18 gates and offers a variety of shopping and dining options, as well as relaxation spaces with natural light and artistic installations.

The transborder jetty is dedicated to U.S.-bound flights and has 18 gates. Passengers on these flights must clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection after passing through security checkpoint C. This jetty also features shops, restaurants, and rest zones, and some gates can be isolated to offer additional security checkpoints if needed.

It's 20km from Downtown Montreal

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is located 20km (12 miles) west of Downtown Montreal. The airport is easily accessible by road and public transport.

By Road

The airport is accessible from Highway 20 or from Highway 520, a spur off Highway 40 that leads directly towards the airport. Eastbound Highway 20 leads to the Dorval interchange, the exit that drivers need to take to reach the airport. From the north, Côte-Vertu Boulevard, which runs parallel to runways 24L and 24R, provides access to the Air Canada Base and hangars, Air Transat hangars, Air Inuit hangars, Bombardier Aerospace assembly facility, and the deicing facility.

By Public Transport

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is well connected by public transport. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) operates several bus routes to and from the airport, including:

• The 747 YUL Aéroport Montreal-Trudeau / Centre-ville shuttle runs 24/7 between the airport and Downtown Montreal. A one-way fare is $11, and you can continue to use it for 24 hours from the time of validation.
• Bus 204 connects the airport with Dorval train station.
• Bus 209 connects the airport with Roxboro-Pierrefonds station.
• Bus 460 connects the airport with the Galeries D’Anjou shopping mall.

Other companies also operate services, including:

• Orleans Express offers coach services between the airport and the cities of Ottawa, Quebec, and Trois Rivieres.
• Aeroshuttle Minibus offers transportation to Sherbrooke, Magog/Orford, Bromont, Granby, L’Ange Gardien, and Richelieu.
• VIA Rail Canada offers a minibus service to the VIA Rail station in Dorval for connections to cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, and Windsor. The shuttle may be booked as part of a rail ticket.

Future Transport Links

In 2016, a massive transit project called Réseau express métropolitain was announced, slated to open between 2023 and 2027. This planned rapid transit network will connect the Trudeau Airport to the Central station in Downtown Montréal, the North Shore, the South Shore, and the West Island. It will run from 5 am to 1 am, 7 days a week. Construction began in April 2018, and the connection to downtown Montreal is expected to be completed by 2027.

It's the third-busiest airport in Canada

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is the third-busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, with 21.17 million passengers in 2023 and 22.4 million in 2024. It is one of two airports managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), a not-for-profit corporation. The airport is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada, 20km (12mi) west of Downtown Montreal. It is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving Montreal and is named after Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada.

Montréal–Trudeau is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec and one of the main gateways into Canada. On average, 58,000 passengers transit through the airport daily, with a large proportion of these being on non-domestic flights. The airport offers year-round non-stop flights to five continents and is a hub for several major airlines, including Air Canada, Air Inuit, and Air Transat. It also serves as an operational base for Sunwing Airlines and Porter Airlines.

The airport has undergone significant expansion and modernisation in recent years to accommodate increasing passenger volume. The terminal has distinct zones for domestic, international, and transborder (US-bound) flights, with a total of 62 gates across these areas. The international jetty features artistic installations and relaxation spaces with natural light, while the transborder jetty requires passengers to clear US Customs and Border Protection.

Montréal–Trudeau is well-connected to public transport, with several bus routes and a planned rapid transit network that will connect the airport to Downtown Montreal and other areas. The airport also offers a range of amenities, including lounges, shops, restaurants, and baggage storage facilities, ensuring a comfortable and efficient travel experience for its many passengers.

It's named after Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is named after Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada and father of Canada's current Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. The airport was renamed in Trudeau's honour on 1st January 2004 by the federal government.

The airport, formerly known as Montréal–Dorval International Airport, is the only Transport Canada designated international airport serving Montreal. It is located 20km (12 miles) west of Downtown Montreal, in the suburb of Dorval, Quebec, Canada.

The airport is one of two managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), a not-for-profit corporation. It is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec and the third busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, with 21.17 million passengers in 2023. It is also one of the main gateways into Canada, with 14.58 million, or 69% of its passengers, travelling on non-domestic flights.

The airport has undergone several expansions and modernisations to increase its capacity and enhance its level of passenger service. It offers year-round non-stop flights to five continents and is a hub for several major airlines, including Air Canada, Air Inuit, and Air Transat.

The decision to rename the airport after Pierre Elliott Trudeau was met with some opposition, particularly from Quebec sovereigntists who disagreed with Trudeau's federalist policies. Despite this, the airport's name change serves as a tribute to the former Prime Minister and his contributions to the country.

Frequently asked questions