Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (IATA:YUL,ICAO:CYUL) (French:Aéroport International Montréal-Trudeau) orMontréal–Trudeau, formerly known and still commonly referred to asMontréal–Dorval International Airport (Aéroport international Montréal-Dorval), is aninternational airport[5] inDorval, Quebec, Canada. It is the onlyTransport Canada designated international airport servingMontreal and is situated 20 km (12 mi) west ofDowntown Montreal. The airport terminals are located entirely in the suburb of Dorval, while one runway is located in the Montreal borough ofSaint-Laurent.Air Canada, the country'sflag carrier, also has its corporate headquarters complex on the Saint-Laurent side of the airport.[6][7] It also servesGreater Montreal and adjacent regions in Quebec and easternOntario, as well as the states ofVermont and northernNew York in theUnited States.[8] The airport is named in honour ofPierre Trudeau (1919–2000), the 15thPrime Minister of Canada.
Trudeau is the busiest airport in the province ofQuebec and thethird-busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, with 22.4 million passengers in 2024.[4] It is one of eight Canadian airports withUnited States border preclearance and is one of the main gateways into Canada with 15.79 million or 71% of its passengers being on non-domestic flights, the highest proportion amongst Canada's airports.[10] YUL has also risen to become the 5th busiest transatlantic hub in North America.[11] The route between Montreal andParis is Canada's busiest international route and the 6th busiest international route from North America, with more than 1.5 million passengers a year.[12][13] It is one of three Air Canadahubs and, in that capacity, serves mainly Quebec, theAtlantic Provinces andEastern Ontario. On an average day, 58,000 passengers transit through Montréal-Trudeau.
Airlines servicing Trudeau offer year-roundnon-stop flights to fivecontinents, namely Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America.[14][15][16] It is one of only two airports in Canada with non-stop flights to five continents, the other beingToronto Pearson International Airport.[17] Trudeau airport is the headquarters of and a large hub for Air Canada, the country's largest airline. It is also the headquarters ofAir Inuit andAir Transat, and an operation base forPorter Airlines. It also plays a role ingeneral aviation as home to the headquarters of Innotech-Execair, Starlink, ACASS and Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facilities of Air Transat and Air Inuit. Transport Canada operates a Civil Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility on site, with a fleet of Government owned and operated civil aircraft.Bombardier Aerospace has an assembly facility on site where they buildGlobal andChallengerbusiness jets.
By the 1940s, it was increasingly clear that Montreal's original airport,Saint-Hubert Airport, in operation since 1927, was no longer adequate for the city's needs. TheMinister of Transport purchased land at the Dorval Race Track, which was considered the best location for an enlarged airport because of its good weather conditions and few foggy days. The airport opened on September 1, 1941, asDorval Airport/Aéroport Dorval with three pavedrunways. By 1946 the airport was hosting more than a quarter of a million passengers a year, growing to more than a million in the mid-1950s. DuringWorld War II thousands ofAllied aircraft passed through Dorval on the way to England. At one time Dorval was the major transatlantic hub forcommercial aviation and the busiest airport in Canada, with flights from airlines such asBritish Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).Until 1959, it also doubled asRCAF Station Lachine.
Montréal–Trudeau's original terminal building viewed from airside
In November 1960, the airport was renamed Montreal–Dorval International Airport/Aéroport international Dorval de Montréal. On December 15 of that year the Minister of Transport inaugurated a new $30 millionterminal. The structure was built by Illsley, Templeton, Archibald, and Larose.[18] At its height, it was the largest terminal in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. It was the gateway to Canada for all European air traffic and served more than two million passengers per year.[19] Eight years later, Montréal–Dorval International Airport underwent a major expansion program. Despite this, the government ofPrime Minister of CanadaPierre Elliott Trudeau (who represented a Montreal riding) predicted that Dorval would be completely saturated by 1985 and also projected that 20 million passengers would be passing through Montreal's airports annually. They decided to construct a new airport in Sainte-Scholastique, what became Montréal–Mirabel International Airport. As the first phase in the transition that would eventually have seen Dorval closed, all international flights (except those to and from the United States) were to be transferred to the new airport in 1975.[20]
Air Canada airplanes parked at the old aeroquay in 1982
The Trudeau government had developed Mirabel Airport to handle an expected growth in international traffic and eventually, to replace Dorval.[citation needed] On November 29, 1975, Mirabel International Airport went into service. With an operations zone of 70 km2 (27 sq mi) and a buffer zone of 290 km2 (110 sq mi), it became the largest airport in the world. Many connecting flights to Canadian centres were transferred to Mirabel and 23 international airlines moved their overseas activities there.[citation needed] As a consequence, Montréal–Dorval was repurposed to serve domestic flights and transborder flights to the United States, to eventually shift these activities to Mirabel in the future and lead to Dorval's closure for redevelopment.[citation needed]
However, the extra traffic never materialized. Mirabel's traffic decreased due to the advent in the 1980s of longer-range jets that did not need to refuel in Montreal before crossing theAtlantic Ocean from the majorWestern North American cities. Montreal's economic decline in the late 1970s and 1980s also had a significant effect on both airports' traffic, which made Mirabel's additional capacity redundant. Although this redundancy would have been resolved if Dorval was decommissioned as originally intended, public pressure supported Dorval's continued operation due to its closer proximity to downtown Montreal at 20 km (12 mi) instead of 58 km (36 mi) for Mirabel. Another obstacle of the planned transfer from Dorval to Mirabel was Air Canada's desire to keep flights in Dorval with its proximity to AVEOS workshops.[21]
In particular, the simultaneous operation of Mirabel (international flights) and Dorval (continental flights) made Montreal less attractive to international airlines. Passengers who used Montreal in transit had to take long bus rides for connections from domestic to international flights (exacerbated by the partially-completed road links and non-existent rail connecting Mirabel to Montreal), unnecessarily complicating their journeys, while Montrealers grew to resent Mirabel as they were forced to travel far out of town for international flights. Faced with the stark economic reality of operating two Canadian points of entry, most international airlines opted to bypass Montreal altogether in favour of Toronto which enjoyed a single major airport at Pearson handling domestic and international flights. Although Dorval resumed handling international flights in 1997, international airlines were slow to return as they were content having established Toronto Pearson as their eastern Canadian gateway.[21]
AnAir CanadaBoeing 777-300ER performing a fly past, with Air Canada's corporate headquarters in foreground, in 2007
With all international scheduled flights returning to Montréal–Dorval in 1997, as well ascharter flights in 2004, the consolidation of flights to Montréal–Dorval resulted in an increase in passenger traffic. Besides the transfer of flights, Montréal–Dorval International Airport could resume being a true hub for passengers in-transit, and those from continental flights would no longer have to travel to Mirabel to connect to international flights and vice versa. Nonetheless, this was insufficient to woo back international airlines who had already switched their eastern Canadian gateway to Toronto Pearson a decade ago.[21]
Starting asDorval Airport, thenMontréal–Dorval International Airport, the airport was renamedMontréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Trudeau's honour on January 1, 2004, by thefederal government. The renaming had been announced in September 2003 by then Minister of TransportDavid Collenette. This move provoked some opposition, especiallyQuebec sovereigntists opposed to Trudeau's staunchly federalist policies. The renaming also provoked opposition from many aviation historians and enthusiasts who recalled Trudeau's role in the effort to shutter Dorval in favour of the much larger and modern Mirabel Airport, of which he was the greatest instigator of its construction.[22] Many Montrealers still refer to Trudeau airport as "Dorval," or "Dorval Airport."[23]
In 2016, Montréal-Trudeau celebrated its 75th anniversary. Under the themeService, Destinations, Passion since 1941, various activities and contests were planned throughout the year. In partnership with theCanada Aviation and Space Museum, the airport hosted theTravelling Through Time exhibition in the public hall of the US Departures area.[25] Exhibits showcasing important milestones in the airport's history were incorporated throughout the terminal.
Montréal–Trudeau underwent a major expansion and modernization designed to increase the terminal's capacity and substantially enhance the level of passenger service. In February 2000, with a budget of CAD 716 million[citation needed], ADM announced plans for an extensive expansion plan that would bring Montréal–Trudeau up to standard with other North American airports its size. The airport terminal had for the most part remained the same, with the exception of minor renovations, since its opening in 1960. With increased passenger volume resulting from the transfer of international scheduled passengers from Mirabel Airport in 1997, as well as Air Canada's intentions to make Montréal–Trudeau itsEastern Canada hub, there was a strong need to greatly expand the terminal, whose capacity of roughly 7 million passengers per year had been exceeded.[citation needed]
The expansion program included the construction of several brand-new facilities, including a jetty for flights to the United States (US Preclearance Terminal), another for other international destinations (International Terminal) and a huge international arrivals complex. An 18-gate Transborder Concourse opened in 2003,[26] an 11-gate International Concourse opened in 2004,[26] new customs hall andbaggage claim area for non-domestic flights and an expanded parking garage opened in 2005.[26] Additionally, sections of the domestic area were renovated and expanded in 2007, accompanied with additional retail space.[26] The International part of the Aeroquay satellite was demolished in 2008, leaving the domestic part for regional carriers.[26] The completion of the CAD 716 million expansion gives Montréal–Trudeau the ability to serve 15 million passengers a year.[27] This ironically accomplished one of the goals that was to be met with the construction of Mirabel. (In the 1970s, the federal government projected that 20 million passengers would be passing through Montreal's airports annually by 1985, with 17 million through Mirabel). Aéroports de Montréal financed all of these improvements itself, with no government grants. By the end of 2007, CAD 1.5 billion had been spent to upgrade Montréal–Trudeau.[28]
The last round of construction in this phase was to allow the airport to accommodate theAirbus A380. Gate 55, part of the international jetty, was designed for the requirements of the A380. It is equipped with twoair bridges to load and unload passengers on both decks of the A380 simultaneously. With Phase II of the international jetty expansion now completed, the airport has two additional A380 gates, although there are currently no airlines operating this type of aircraft at the airport.
New hotel, transborder terminal expansion and modernization (2006–2009)
On June 15, 2006, construction began on a new four-starMarriott hotel at the airport, above the transborder terminal. Originally scheduled to be completed by September 2008, the 279 first-class room hotel opened its doors on August 19, 2009. Construction was slowed down because of the recession and a collapse in the Transborder market. It contains an underground train station that was planned to eventually connect the airport with downtown Montreal as well as ADM's corporate headquarters.
On the same day, Montreal–Trudeau airport opened the doors to the refurbished, expanded, modernized and user-friendly transborder terminal, meeting the industry's highest standards. This increased the total area of the terminal from 9,320 to 18,122 m2 (100,320 to 195,060 sq ft). Furthermore, the terminal is equipped with a new baggage sorting room which allows U.S. customs officers to retrieve luggage for secondary inspection.[28]
Overview of the international and transborder jetties during the expansion project in 2014
Air France became the first operator of the type in Montreal on April 22, 2011, when they officially launched their daily A380 service from Paris.[29] A380 service was reduced to 4 weekly flights during summer 2012 and withdrawn in October 2012, due to low demand for business class and a high level of competition, withAir Canada,Air Transat andCorsair also operating Montreal–Paris flights.[30]
In July 2011, James Cherry, the CEO of Aéroports de Montréal, announced the construction of a two-phase expansion of Montréal–Trudeau's international terminal. The total cost of the project, now completed, has been around $620 million.[31][32]
Phase I of this project, which was completed on December 20, 2012, opened a new boarding lounge which can accommodate as many as 420 passengers, along with a new gate, numbered 62. It was officially completed at a cost of $270 million. The new gate can accommodate threePassenger Transfer Vehicles, allowing passengers to be transferred from the terminal to an aircraft parked on a remote stand nearby. When phase II of the expansion began in 2014, this gate was closed to passengers. It was reopened with the inauguration of the extension two years later.
Phase II of the project, which was officially inaugurated on May 10, 2016, and put into service two days after, added six new contact gates for wide-body jets, including two for theAirbus A380, increasing the total number of contact gates from 10 to 16. This expansion holds gates 63 through 68. The area has 20,000 m2 of open spaces, restaurants, shops and a children's playground area. It took two years to complete and opened four months ahead of the original schedule for a total cost of $350 million. It was conceived byHumà Design and integrates three massive art installations and four vitrines showcasing Montreal's museums. The extension of the international jetty was built to alleviate the high level of congestion on the tarmac and in the terminal.[33]
The newly built expansion of the international jetty
Apart from these expansions, ADM inaugurated in April 2016, a commercial area between gate 52 and 53. This area is calledHaltes gourmandes (English: gourmet stops) referring to the large number of restaurants located there. The new restaurants are all owned bySSP Canada Food Service Inc. They operate 12 locations in the terminal, managing a total of 4000 m2 of terminal area. SSP invested over $200 million throughout 2016 in its airport locations.[34]
In January 2016, ADM published a call for tenders on their website regarding the restoration and upgrade of the curtain wall of the main façade on the terminal.[35] This part of the airport is one of the oldest remaining parts of the original terminal.
Also, according to the 2013–2033 master plan from ADM, the following future developments are in the works:
Increase in the capacity of the passenger curb-side areas
Development of a network of taxiways in the centre-west portion of the airport to support the development of a new air cargo handling area and an industrial development zone
Reconfiguration of the international arrivals hall and of the domestic and international departures luggage room
Extension of the transborder jetty and addition of a remote parking area[36]
On April 30, 2018, a massive new expansion project was unveiled that will last until 2030. The first phase ($2.5 billion) will see the airport's multi-level parking lot demolished and rebuilt with a green roof and theMontreal-Trudeau Airport REM station underneath. The drop-off area will be greatly expanded and covered with glass, and a new remote terminal will be built where runway 10/28 used to stand. By 2030, the remote terminal will be connected via future phases to the current terminal building to handle the expected growth. ADM CEO Philippe Rainville stated "the airport's growth has been about double the international average in recent years [so the] goal is to meet the growth projections of the airport."[37]
There are currently tworunways in operation at Montréal-Trudeau: two parallel concrete runways aligned in a northeast–southwest direction (06L/24R and 06R/24L).[1] There was another single runway in an east–west direction (10/28), but it was permanently decommissioned in July 2023. The former runway is now a taxiway and will continue to be used as such.[38]
One of the biggestduty-free shops in Canada,The Loop, seen here near gate 51
Montréal-Trudeau airport consists of one two-storied terminal, divided into four different zones: the public area (departures and arrivals level), the domestic jetty, the international jetty and the transborder jetty. There are two distinct areas in the public part of the airport (departure level); one is dedicated for the check-in of flights within or outside Canada (except U.S.) and the other one is for flights departing for the U.S. Both public areas are equipped with self-service check-in kiosks, a prayer area, shops and cafés. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the airport, luggage trolleys, ATMs and nursing rooms. When passengers arrive at Montréal-Trudeau from an international destination, they are welcomed into a huge and bright arrival complex, before passing throughprimary customs inspection, then go down one level to thebaggage claim area and finally the international arrivals public area. The Aérogalerie program places artworks throughout the airport to showcase the city's artistic and cultural history. Works throughout the airport include showcases, illuminated columns, temporary exhibitions in the international arrival complex and permanent collection from various artists from the city.
The airport has eightmobile lounges that are used to shuttle passengers from the terminal to a plane parked at a remotehardstand spot.[39]
The far end of the domestic jetty on a quiet afternoon
The domestic jetty, which is accessible via security checkpoint A, is divided into two parts: a satellite jetty connected by a tunnel to the main terminal and a wing attached to the main terminal building. The main jetty holds 16 gates: 1 through 12, 15, and 47 through 49. The satellite jetty holds another 10 gates: 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32 and 34. There are only two boarding bridges located inside the satellite (17 and 21) as the other gates are mostly used for prop aircraft like theBombardier Dash 8 family. These parts of the airport are the only departure areas remaining that were part of the original terminal.
The International jetty, also accessible via the security checkpoint A, is dedicated to flights with destinations outside Canada and United States. This jetty holds 18 gates: 50 through 53 and 55 through 68. Gates 53 and 62 are used exclusively forPassenger Transfer Vehicles. In this area, travellers can shop, eat and relax with a wide varieties of boutiques, restaurants, cafés, spa facilities and one of the biggest airport duty-free shops in Canada. At the far end of the jetty, there is a wide open space with a lot of natural lights through floor to ceilings windows and a big skylight in the rooftop. The masterpiece of the jetty is a work of art, calledVeil of Glass, composed of different coloured glass triangles illuminated by spotlights, created by local artistATOMIC3. Several murals and other works of art are also located in this jetty, including four from various Montréal museums.[40]
The international jetty near gate 63
In the international jetty, there is a large area where passengers can relax before their flight. Travelers are able to download to their smartphone or e-reader the first chapter of any books available on the platformLire vous transporte. After that, they can choose to buy the entire book through the Wi-Fi network in the airport. A rest area has been constructed near gate 57 in order to read these books in a calm environment, with cushions and dimmed lights.[41] There are over 1000 chairs with charging stations and USB ports throughout the jetty as well as three water bottle-filling stations.
The transborder jetty is dedicated to all U.S. bound flights, and has 18 gates: 72 through 89. For access to gate 87, 88 or 89, passengers must go down one level via an escalator. Gate 56, 58 and 60 (part of the international jetty) can also be used for U.S. bound flights. They can be isolated from the other gates by moving glass walls known asswing gates. Unlike other jetties, the transborder jetty requires passengers to go through security checkpoint C and then theU.S. Customs and Border Protection and lastly through the duty-free shop before accessing their gates. The gate area contains the same services as the other parts of the airport such as shops, restaurants, rest zones and cafés. If needed, some gates can be isolated in order to offer additional security checkpoints if an aircraft flies to a potential risk zone likeWashington–National.[citation needed]
Two majorairline alliances (SkyTeam andStar Alliance) are present at Montréal-Trudeau, and therefore both maintainfrequent flyer lounges within the airport. There are also four "Pay-In" lounges open for use by all passengers, regardless of airline, frequent flyer status or class of travel.
^A : At Montréal–Trudeau and at other airports in Canada withUnited States border preclearance, a distinction is made between "transborder" and "international" flights for operational and statistical purposes. A "transborder" flight is a flight between Canada and a destination in the United States, while an "international" flight is a flight between Canada and a destination that is not within the United States or Canada. A "domestic" flight is a flight within Canada only.
^B : During 2020 & 2021, there was a significant decrease of passenger numbers due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and Canada border closures and/or restrictions.
Montréal–Trudeau is accessible by six bus routes operated by theSociété de transport de Montréal (STM): one dedicated airport transfer service, one express route, two regular daytime routes, and two night buses.
Introduced on March 29, 2010, the 747 Montreal-Trudeau/Downtown route operates for 24 hours every day of the year, connecting the airport toLionel-Groulx metro station,Central Station,Berri-UQAM metro station, and the city center.[212][213] Prior to the introduction of the 747 bus service,Groupe La Québécoise operated a coach service known as L'Aerobus between the airport and Central Station, connecting with several hotels downtown.[214][215]
In addition to the 747, Montréal–Trudeau is accessible by the 204 Cardinal and 209 Des Sources everyday, while the 356 Lachine/YUL Aéroport/Des Sources and 378 Sauvé/YUL Aéroport serve the airport during night service hours. It is also accessible by the 460 Express Métropolitaine, which runs during rush hours. These routes provide service to theDorval bus terminus and train station, which is within walking distance ofVia's Dorval station.[216]
The shuttle bus from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport to Dorval station is free of charge to Via Rail passengers. Operated by indigo, the service departs from departures door 8 every 45-60 minutes during the stations opening hours, taking around 5 minutes to reach its destination.[217]
The airport is accessible fromHighway 20 or fromHighway 520, a spur off Highway 40 that leads directly towards the airport. Eastbound Highway 20 leads to the Dorval interchange, the exit which drivers must take for the airport. From the north, Côte-Vertu Boulevard that 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.
When drivers pick up or drop off guests at Trudeau, they are permitted to stop momentarily outside the Arrivals and Departure areas at both the Canada and International departures as well as the Transborder Jetty.
Aéroports de Montréal, the City of Montreal,Transports Québec and Transport Canada made plans to improve the Dorval interchange and built direct road links between the airport andhighways20 and520. Once the certificate of authorization was obtained, work began in June 2009 with an original projected end date of 2017, although some parts of the project will be on hold for several years. The project entails redesigning the road network within the airport site, which was mostly completed as planned.[222]
On June 18, 1998,Propair Flight 420 suffered from brake dragging on departure from Trudeau Airport (then known as Montreal Dorval Airport). This heated up the wheel brakes of theFairchild Metroliner, which eventually became lit by hydraulic fluid, starting a fire in the left wing. The aircraft attempted to divert toMirabel International Airport. However, the left wing suffered a structural failure due to the extreme flames, and the aircraft rolled and hit the ground upside down, killing all 11 people on the flight.
June 5, 2015 – WestJet flight 588 fromToronto Pearson International Airport, operated by aBoeing 737-600 (Registration C GWCT) slid off the runway while landing. There were no fatalities or injuries among the passengers and crew.[225]
July 9, 2023 –Air Canada Flight 885, aB777-300ER fromGeneva International Airport (Registration C-FITL) was standing at the gate when a water truck caught fire under the tail section. As passengers began disembarking, the water service truck located near the rear cargo door caught fire. The flames reached the aircraft's skin and smoke was detected in the cabin. A rapid deboarding was ordered, and all passengers exited to the terminal while the fire was brought under control by emergency services. No injuries were reported.[226]
^Sena, Gastón (September 30, 2021)."Airbus A220 to land in Mexico with Air Canada".Aviacionline | Aviacionline es el sitio de aviación en español más leído del mundo. Presenta noticias de aerolíneas, aviones, aeropuertos, y demás. (in Spanish). RetrievedSeptember 11, 2025.
^"Air Canada to resume flights to Reykjavik".Aviacionline | Aviacionline es el sitio de aviación en español más leído del mundo. Presenta noticias de aerolíneas, aviones, aeropuertos, y demás.
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