Dorval Airport: A Gateway To Quebec's Cultural Hub

where is dorval airport in quebec

Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Dorval Airport, is located in Dorval, a city in the Montréal region of southern Quebec, Canada. The airport is situated 20 kilometres from Downtown Montreal and is the only Transport Canada-designated international airport serving the city. It is one of the busiest airports in Canada, serving over 20 million passengers annually.

Characteristics Values
Name Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (formerly Dorval Airport)
Location Dorval, Quebec, Canada
Nearest Station Dorval station (IATA: XAX)
Distance from Nearest Station 2 kilometres (1.2 mi)
Owner Transport Canada
Operator Aéroports de Montréal (ADM)
Lease Duration 60 years
Annual Passengers 22.4 million (2024)
Daily Passengers 53,000
Connections Quebec City, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Vermont, and northern New York
Bus Services 747 Montreal-Trudeau/Downtown, 204 Cardinal, 209 Des Sources, 356 Lachine/YUL Aéroport/Des Sources, 378 Sauvé/YUL Aéroport, 460 Express Métropolitaine
Train Services Via Rail, the national train operator in Canada
Population of Dorval 19,302 (2021)
Land Area 20.91 km2 (8.07 sq mi)
Population Density 923.1/km2 (2,390.8/sq mi) (2021)

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Dorval Airport's history and renaming

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. The airport is situated 20 kilometres west of Downtown Montreal, with the airport terminals located entirely within the suburb of Dorval.

History

By the 1940s, it became clear that Montreal's original airport, Saint-Hubert Airport, was no longer adequate for the city's needs. The Minister of Transport purchased land at the Dorval Race Track, considered a prime location for an enlarged airport due to its good weather conditions and minimal fog. The airport, known as Dorval Airport or Aéroport Dorval, opened on September 1, 1941, with three paved runways. During World War II, thousands of Allied aircraft passed through Dorval en route to England, and by the mid-1950s, it was serving over a million passengers annually. At one point, Dorval Airport was the busiest airport in Canada and a major transatlantic hub for commercial aviation.

Renaming

The airport has undergone several name changes over the years. Starting as Dorval Airport, it later became Montréal–Dorval International Airport. On January 1, 2004, the federal government officially renamed it Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in honour of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. This decision was announced in September 2003 by the then Minister of Transport, David Collenette, and faced some opposition, particularly from Quebec sovereigntists who disagreed with Trudeau's federalist policies. Additionally, aviation historians and enthusiasts objected due to Trudeau's role in initially supporting the development of the Mirabel Airport, which was intended to replace Dorval Airport. Despite the renaming, many Montrealers still refer to the airport as "Dorval" or "Dorval Airport."

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Ground transportation and parking

Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Dorval Airport, is located in Dorval, a city in the Montréal region of southern Quebec. It is a major international airport and the third busiest in Canada, with 22.4 million passengers in 2024. The airport is about 20 km from downtown Montreal and is easily accessible by various ground transportation options.

Ground Transportation

There are several ways to get to and from the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport by public transportation, including bus and train services. The 747 Montreal-Trudeau/Downtown bus route operates 24 hours a day, connecting the airport to Lionel-Groulx metro station, Central Station, Berri-UQAM metro station, and the city centre. This bus route provides a convenient and affordable way to travel to and from the airport.

In addition to the 747 bus route, the airport is also served by several other bus lines, including the 204 Cardinal, 209 Des Sources, 356 Lachine/YUL Aéroport/Des Sources, and 460 Express Métropolitaine. These bus lines provide service to various locations in Montreal and offer connections to other transit options.

For those travelling by train, the airport is connected to the national train network operated by Via Rail. A free airport shuttle bus operates between the airport and Dorval station, located about 2 kilometres away. From Dorval station, passengers can access inter-city rail connections to Quebec City, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, and other regional centres in Quebec and Ontario.

It is worth noting that some travellers have reported that the shuttle bus from Dorval station to the airport can sometimes be crowded and may not arrive frequently enough to accommodate all passengers. In such cases, alternative transportation options such as ridesharing or taxis may be considered.

Parking

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport offers a range of parking options for travellers, including both on-site and off-site parking facilities. On-site parking includes Valet Parking, available at a flat rate of $38 per day, as well as Terminal Parking and Economy Parking lots. Short-term parking in the Terminal Parking area is $34 per day, while multi-level parking is available at a lower rate of $22 per day. The Economy Parking option is the most affordable, with rates varying from $15 to $22 per day.

In addition to on-site parking, there are also off-site parking lots located near the airport, offering competitive rates and convenient shuttle services. These off-site parking options can be booked in advance through websites like onestopparking.com, which provide secure and reliable reservations. Some off-site parking rates start as low as $11.20 per day, and shuttle services are usually included to transport passengers to and from the airport.

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Amenities and services

Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Dorval Airport, is located in Dorval, a city in the Montréal region of southern Quebec, Canada. It is one of the busiest airports in Canada, serving over 22 million passengers in 2024, including many international travellers.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport offers a range of amenities and services for travellers passing through. Here are some of the key amenities and services available:

Transportation and Connectivity:

  • The airport is accessible by several bus routes, including the 24-hour 747 Montreal-Trudeau/Downtown route, which connects the airport to the city centre and major transit hubs such as Lionel-Groulx metro station and Central Station.
  • A free airport shuttle bus service is provided to Dorval station, located 2 kilometres south of the airport, offering inter-city rail connections to nearby cities like Quebec City, Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto.
  • The airport is easily accessible by car via Highway 20 or Highway 520, a spur off Highway 40 that leads directly to the airport.

Dining and Accommodation:

  • The airport and its surroundings offer a variety of dining options, including Bijou Restaurant & Bar, which serves international dishes for breakfast and dinner. Nearby restaurants such as La Verita and 40 Westt Raw Bar & Steakhouse are also popular choices.
  • Accommodations near the airport include the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel and the Comfort Inn Aeroport, which provide convenient access to the airport and various amenities like breakfast, laundry services, and spacious rooms.

Wellness and Leisure:

  • The Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel features an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, and a whirlpool for guest use. Additionally, spa services such as massages, body scrubs, and foot baths are available at AltiSpa within the hotel.
  • Guests at the hotel have praised the spectacular views from the rooms, especially those with balconies facing the airport runway.

Other Services:

  • The airport has celebrated historical milestones with exhibitions and activities, such as the "Travelling Through Time" exhibition in partnership with the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
  • The airport has a United States border preclearance facility, making it one of eight Canadian airports with this feature.

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Airlines and destinations

Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, formerly known as Dorval Airport, is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. Dorval is a city in the Montréal region, in the southern part of Quebec province, Canada, on Île de Montréal (Montreal Island). It is a southwestern suburb of Montreal, situated across from Lac Saint-Louis, an extension of the St. Lawrence River.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is a significant hub for several airlines, including Air Inuit, Air Transat, and Porter Airlines, which use the airport as their headquarters or operating base. The airport also facilitates general aviation, accommodating the headquarters of companies like Innotech-Execair, Starlink, and ACASS, and maintenance and repair facilities for Air Transat and Air Inuit.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is served by numerous airlines offering flights to various domestic and international destinations. Some of the airlines that operate from this airport include Flair Airlines, which offers flights to and from destinations like Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport; Air Transat, which provides flights to and from Miami International Airport; and Porter Airlines, connecting Liberty International Airport with Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.

The airport also has a diverse range of international airlines serving various destinations. For instance, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operates a bus service from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport to Ottawa Railway Station exclusively for Air France-KLM customers travelling to or from the Ottawa region.

Additionally, the airport is well-connected to other transportation options. It is linked to the Via Rail, Canada's national train operator, through a free shuttle bus service that transports passengers to and from Dorval station, offering connections to Quebec City, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, and other regional centres in Quebec and Ontario. The airport is also accessible via the 747 Montreal-Trudeau/Downtown bus route, which operates 24 hours a day, connecting travellers to the Lionel-Groulx metro station, Central Station, Berri-UQAM metro station, and Montreal's city centre.

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Cargo and private flights

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, formerly known and still commonly referred to 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 km (12 mi) west of Downtown Montreal. The airport terminals are located entirely within the suburb of Dorval, while one runway is located in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent.

Dorval Airport has had a long history of serving cargo and private flights. During World War II, thousands of Allied aircraft passed through Dorval on their way to England, making it a major transatlantic hub for commercial aviation at the time. In the mid-1950s, the airport was serving more than a million passengers annually.

In the 1970s, the Canadian government constructed the Montréal–Mirabel International Airport to handle the growing international traffic and eventually replace Dorval. As a result, Dorval was repurposed to serve domestic flights and transborder flights to the United States. However, the expected increase in traffic never materialised, and Mirabel's traffic decreased due to the advent of longer-range jets in the 1980s.

In 1992, the federal government transferred the operation and maintenance of major airports to the private sector, and the Aéroport de Montréal (ADM) was created to manage both Dorval and Mirabel airports. ADM made significant investments in modernising Dorval Airport, including adding a new international jetty and arrival complex. In 2002, all charter flights were moved from Mirabel to Dorval, and Mirabel now primarily operates cargo flights.

Today, Montréal–Trudeau International Airport is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec and the third busiest in Canada by passenger traffic. It continues to serve cargo and private flights, with 22.4 million passengers in 2024. The airport is accessible via various bus and train routes, providing connections to the nearby Dorval station and the city of Montreal.

Frequently asked questions

Dorval Airport, officially known as Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.

The airport was originally a military airfield used to refuel fighters and bombers during World War II. It was renamed in honour of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada's 15th Prime Minister.

Trudeau Airport is the busiest airport in Quebec and the third busiest airport in Canada, serving over 22 million passengers in 2024.

The airport is connected to Dorval station, which is 2km away, by a free shuttle bus. From there, you can take the train to Quebec City, Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto.

Air Canada has its headquarters at the airport, and it is also a hub for Air Inuit, La Senza, and Bombardier Aerospace.

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