Montreal Gets Second Passenger Airport: How MET Launch and 11 Porter Routes Change Travel in Canada

Montreal now has a new major entry point for domestic travel within Canada: on June 15, 2026, MET - Montreal Metropolitan Airport in Longueuil opened a new passenger terminal and welcomed its first commercial flights. Porter Airlines simultaneously began launching a network of 11 destinations, making this event not just a local opening, but a noticeable change for air connectivity, tourism, and competition in one of Canada's largest metropolitan areas.

The new MET terminal, whose official airport code remains YHU, is located in Longueuil on the south shore of the Montreal metropolitan area. The airport is positioned as an additional, more compact alternative to the city's main international hub - Montreal-Trudeau (YUL). For tourists, this means more options when planning trips across Canada; for the local market, new competition for passengers; and for regional tourism, a chance to better connect Montreal with Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Western Canada, and domestic destinations in Quebec.

The event is important because secondary airports in large cities often change passenger behavior. If they have convenient access, clear navigation, and sufficient frequency, some travelers choose them not only because of price, but also because of less stress on the day of departure. This is the logic MET relies on: the new terminal promotes a shorter and simpler passenger trajectory, the METbus shuttle to the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke metro station, and a distance of approximately 15 km from downtown Montreal.

What Exactly Opened in Longueuil

MET is not a completely new airport built from scratch, but a relaunch of the older Saint-Hubert airport site in a new role. The new passenger terminal began operations on June 15, 2026, when the airport welcomed its first passengers and regular commercial flights. The first Porter flight from MET to Vancouver was marked by a water arch, and the opening was accompanied by an official ceremony involving local authorities, the tourism sector, and the transport community.

According to official MET information, the new terminal is intended to operate as a convenient gateway for travel within Canada. The airport explicitly states that its goal is not to replace Montreal-Trudeau, but to give Greater Montreal another option. This model is familiar to many large cities: the main international airport handles global flights, transfers, and long-haul traffic, while a second airport can better serve a portion of shorter or domestic routes.

For the passenger, the main difference lies not only in the address. MET promotes the idea of a smaller, more predictable terminal where it is easier to get from the entrance to check-in, security control, the boarding gate, and the baggage carousel. This is especially important for domestic trips, when a traveler does not want to spend almost as much time on ground procedures as on the flight itself.

Which Routes Porter Launched

Porter Airlines became the key launch carrier for the new terminal. On June 15, the airline began its first flights from MET to Vancouver, Toronto Pearson, Toronto City, and St. John's. Over the following week, several more cities were added to the network, and in total, Porter announced 11 destinations from the new airport.

The initial route list includes St. John's, Toronto City, Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), Edmonton (YEG), Calgary (YYC), Halifax (YHZ), Charlottetown, Winnipeg (YWG), Moncton, and Hamilton. Some routes are seasonal, so passengers should check not only the availability of the destination in the booking system, but also specific operating dates, frequencies, and fare conditions.

According to the schedule published by Porter, the most frequent starting destinations are Toronto City and Toronto Pearson. This is logical: the connection between Montreal and Toronto remains one of Canada's key domestic markets, and Toronto's two airports provide different travel scenarios. Toronto City is convenient for business and short city trips, while Pearson is important for transfers, international flights, and a wider network of airlines.

At the same time, routes to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg bring MET onto long domestic lines, while flights to Halifax, St. John's, Charlottetown, and Moncton strengthen the connection with Atlantic Canada. For a tourist, this means that the new airport is not limited to short regional flights: it is immediately attempting to become a full-fledged Canadian starting point.

Why This Is Important for Tourists

For travelers from Montreal and the surrounding areas, the launch of MET creates additional choice. If a person lives on the south shore or in a part of the metropolitan area from which it is more convenient to get to Longueuil, the new airport can shorten the path to the plane. This is especially relevant for short weekend trips, domestic business trips, family visits, and Canadian routes without an international transfer.

For tourists flying into Montreal from other Canadian cities, the new airport can also be useful, but only if the logistics fit a specific plan. MET is not located in the same place as YUL, so one should not automatically compare only the airfare price. It is necessary to consider where the hotel is located, whether an international transfer is needed, how long the trip to the center will take, and whether it is convenient to use the shuttle, taxi, or a rental car.

If the route includes a subsequent international flight, the main hub for most such transfers will remain Montreal-Trudeau. In such a case, flying to MET may be disadvantageous if one has to travel between airports with luggage and a time buffer. However, if Montreal is the final destination or the trip is entirely domestic, MET can become a more convenient alternative.

What Changes for the Montreal Market

For the aviation market, Greater Montreal is effectively moving to a model with two passenger airports. This does not mean that traffic will be instantly redistributed, but the very appearance of a second option changes the negotiating position of airlines, passenger expectations, and the strategy for developing domestic routes. Porter has already stated that, together with existing flights from Montreal-Trudeau, its capacity in the region in summer will almost double.

A separate factor is the partnership with Pascan Aviation, which is intended to strengthen regional connections in Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and Porter's wider network. For the tourism economy, this is important because domestic tourism depends not only on large trunk flights, but also on the ability to reach smaller cities without complex ground transfers. If transfers and schedules work stably, MET can help distribute tourist flows more widely than the traditional Montreal - Toronto - Vancouver axis.

At the same time, the new airport should not be perceived as a ready-made answer to all accessibility problems. For the project to be truly useful for a wide audience, it needs stable punctuality, clear transport to the city, transparent information for passengers, a sufficient number of services in the terminal, and honest positioning in booking systems. It is important for the tourist to see not only the MET brand, but also the official code YHU, so as not to confuse the airport with YUL.

What to Note Before Booking

The first practical point is to check the departure and arrival airport. In Montreal, it is now important to distinguish between MET/YHU and Montréal-Trudeau/YUL. In Toronto, it is similarly necessary to look carefully whether the flight goes to Toronto City or to Toronto Pearson. A mistake in the airport can cost time, money, and a ruined transfer.

The second point is flight frequency. Some destinations have a daily or nearly daily schedule, and part of the starting network is seasonal. If the trip is tied to a cruise, conference, wedding, festival, or international flight, it is better to have a backup plan in case of delay or schedule change.

The third point is ground logistics. MET claims a METbus shuttle to the Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke metro station with an interval of approximately 35 minutes, but on the day of travel, it is worth checking the current schedule and travel time. If a traveler arrives late, has a lot of luggage, or is traveling with children, a taxi or transfer may be more practical, even if the ticket for the flight via MET looks cheaper.

The fourth point is transfers between airports. If the ticket is bought in separate segments, and one flight arrives at MET and another departs from YUL, a large time buffer must be allowed. For passengers who still fly through the main airport, it is useful to check transfers and taxis from Montreal-Trudeau in advance, as the ground stage often determines how comfortable the entire journey will be.

Can MET Become a Real Alternative to YUL

In the short term, MET is most likely to become an alternative for a part of domestic Canadian travel, rather than a full replacement for YUL. Montreal's main international airport retains its role as the base hub for long-haul flights, international connections, large alliances, and a significant part of the tourist flow. MET, instead, can win on simplicity, proximity to the south shore, compactness, and specific domestic Porter routes.

The long-term result will depend on demand. If passengers truly choose MET, airlines may add frequencies, and other carriers may look into the possibilities of the new terminal. If ground access, schedules, or prices do not meet expectations, part of the traffic will remain at YUL, and MET will operate more niche. That is why the first summer season of 2026 will be a factual test of trust for the new airport.

For Montreal's tourism industry, the opening of MET has positive potential. Additional air connectivity facilitates short trips, supports hotels, events, restaurants, business meetings, and domestic tours in Canada. It is especially important that the new network is not limited to only one direction, but immediately covers both the East and West of the country.

Conclusion

The launch of MET - Montreal Metropolitan Airport and 11 Porter routes is one of the most noticeable Canadian aviation news of the week. It combines infrastructure, competition, domestic tourism, and practical benefit for the passenger. For Montreal, this is a chance to move to a more mature two-airport model, and for travelers, an opportunity to more accurately select a route depending on the area of the city, price, schedule, and final goal of the trip.

The main advice is simple: when booking flights to or from Montreal in the summer of 2026, carefully check the airport code, travel time, and transfer conditions. MET/YHU may be very convenient for domestic Canadian routes, but its advantage is revealed only when ground logistics and schedule truly match your travel plan.