Montreal Opens Second Passenger Airport MET: What Changes for Travel in Canada

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
27.07.2026 23:59

Montreal Opens Second Passenger Airport MET: What Changes for Travel in Canada

The new MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport passenger terminal in Saint-Hubert has officially begun operations in Greater Montreal. For tourists, this is not just another building near the runway: the region has effectively gained a second commercial airport, which is intended to relieve some of the domestic traffic, provide Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation with a new platform for routes and make travel within Canada more flexible.

The news became prominent after the publication of a MET update on June 22, 2026, regarding the acceptance of the first passengers and the start of commercial flights. According to the airport, the first flights began on June 15, and the opening of the terminal was accompanied by a water arch for Porter's first flight to Vancouver. The event was also confirmed by specialized aviation publications, including Aviation24.be and PAX, which separately noted the role of the new airport as a second passenger hub for the Montreal metropolitan area.

For travelers, the main news is that Montreal now has not only the large international Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL), but also a new domestic Canadian alternative on the south shore of the city. MET is located in Longueuil, approximately 15 kilometers from downtown Montreal, and is positioned as a compact, modern, and easier-to-use airport for narrow-body aircraft flights.

What Exactly Opened in Montreal

MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport operates based on the Saint-Hubert airport, which has a long history, but in recent decades has not been a full passenger competitor to YUL. The new YHU terminal changes this role: the site now accepts regular commercial flights, rather than just general aviation, training flights, or separate specialized operations.

According to MET itself, the airport wants to become a new gateway to destinations across Canada. Its website already separately describes routes to Quebec City, Halifax, Charlottetown, Gaspé, Calgary, Moncton, the Magdalen Islands, St. John's, Toronto via Billy Bishop and Pearson, Edmonton, Hamilton, Saint John, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. This is an important detail: the project is designed not as a replacement for the international hub YUL, but as an additional domestic and regional hub.

The first major carrier at the new terminal was Porter Airlines. In a statement from MET and YHU Terminal, it is noted that Porter is launching 11 new routes from the new airport, and cooperation with Pascan Aviation is intended to strengthen connections between the regions of Quebec, the Maritime Provinces, and major Canadian cities. For the tourism market, this means more options not only for trips to Montreal, but also for routes through Montreal further into the country.

Why This Is Important for Tourists

In large cities, a second airport often changes passenger behavior. It is not always convenient for every route, but it can be beneficial for specific areas of the city, short domestic flights, regional destinations, and passengers who want to avoid the largest international hub. In the case of Montreal, this logic is especially evident because MET is located on the South Shore, where a large part of the metropolitan area lives and works.

For a passenger, this could mean a shorter path to the terminal, easier boarding, less congestion on peak days, and a wider choice of flights within Canada. For a tourist planning a route from Montreal to Vancouver, Montreal to Halifax, Montreal to Quebec City, or Montreal to Calgary, it is now worth checking not only YUL, but also MET/YHU. The difference may be not only in the ticket price, but also in travel time, transfer convenience, parking costs, or public transport availability.

At the same time, the new airport does not eliminate the need to carefully check where exactly the flight departs from. In Montreal, a situation typical for cities with several airports may now arise: a passenger looks at the destination, but misses the airport code. If the ticket is issued from YHU/MET, going to Montreal-Trudeau will be a mistake. Conversely, international flights and a large part of long-haul routes will continue to be tied to YUL.

Which Destinations Receive the Greatest Effect

The most obvious effect from the launch of MET is seen in domestic Canadian routes. In the westward direction, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg become important. For such trips, it is useful to check the destination airport pages in advance: for example, Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC), Edmonton (YEG), and Winnipeg (YWG). This helps to evaluate not only the flight, but also the subsequent logistics after arrival.

In the eastward direction, MET strengthens Montreal's role as a starting point for travel to Atlantic Canada. Among the destinations listed on the airport's website are Halifax, Moncton, St. John's, Charlottetown, Saint John, and the Magdalen Islands. For travelers, this opens up more convenient options for summer routes combining urban leisure in Montreal and the nature of the Atlantic. If Halifax is in the plan, it is worth separately checking information about YHZ airport and the Halifax online flight board.

A separate group of destinations concerns the province of Quebec. Pascan Aviation historically works with regional routes, and the opening of the new terminal and cooperation with Porter are intended to strengthen the connection between Montreal, smaller cities, and tourist regions. This is important for travelers planning not only a classic city-break in Montreal, but also trips to Quebec City, Gaspé, or other destinations where a flight can save many hours of road travel.

What Will Change for Montreal-Trudeau Airport

The launch of MET does not mean that YUL loses its status as the city's main airport. Montreal-Trudeau remains the key international hub through which long-haul flights, transfers to global airline networks, and most cross-border and intercontinental traffic pass. It is through YUL that travelers will most often plan flights from Europe, the USA, Middle East, or other distant markets.

However, the second airport may gradually take over part of the domestic load, especially where the passenger values a short trip to the terminal, a simple departure process, and a direct flight without a complex transfer. For YUL, this could even be a positive factor: if part of the local traffic moves to MET, the main hub will find it easier to concentrate on international, cross-border, and large connecting flows.

Practical advice is simple: before booking, compare not only the fare, but also the total cost of the route. In Montreal, you should calculate the travel to the terminal, registration time, baggage, transfers, availability of morning and evening flights, and options after arrival. If the arrival or departure is still through YUL, you may need pages about hotels near Montreal-Trudeau airport, transfers and taxis from YUL, or car rental at Montreal airport.

How the New Airport Fits into the Summer Season

The timing of MET's opening is telling: the start occurred before the active summer tourist period, when domestic Canadian routes, family visits, cruise plans, trips to national parks, and city holidays overlap. Porter, according to PAX, is expected to nearly double its capacity in Greater Montreal this summer, adding over 1,000 flights thanks to operations at MET and maintaining its presence at Montreal-Trudeau.

This may increase competition on domestic routes, but one should not automatically expect a sharp drop in prices. The new terminal creates additional supply, however, ticket costs will depend on the season, flight load, operating costs, aviation fuel, and overall market capacity. For the passenger, the best strategy is to compare both Montreal airports and several dates, rather than searching for one universal "cheap" option.

For the tourism business, the appearance of MET also has significance. The new airport can make Montreal a more convenient entry point for travel across Canada, and the South Shore a more attractive location for hotels, car rentals, conferences, short trips, and regional tours. In the MET statement, it is specifically emphasized that the project is intended to support tourism, the regional economy, and Quebec's aerospace cluster.

What to Check Before Flying from MET

Passengers who were previously used to automatically going to YUL should change their approach to planning. The new airport has its own code YHU, its own terminal, its own access rules, and ground logistics. MET reports a METbus shuttle to Longueuil metro station, which is expected to run approximately every 35 minutes, and the terminal's location at 6400 Airport Road in Longueuil.

Before the trip, it is worth making several checks:

  • verify the airport code on the ticket: YHU/MET or YUL;
  • check if the flight is operated by Porter Airlines or Pascan Aviation specifically from the new terminal;
  • allow time for the trip to Longueuil, especially during peak hours;
  • review the carrier's baggage rules, as domestic fares may differ;
  • for transfers to another flight, do not plan too short an interval between different Montreal airports.

Tourists with international connections should be especially careful. If you arrive at YUL from Europe or the USA, and then have a domestic flight from MET, this is no longer a standard transfer within one terminal. You need to complete arrival formalities, collect baggage, travel to the other airport, and go through registration and security again. Such a route may be beneficial, but only with a sufficient time buffer.

Conclusion

The opening of MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport is one of the most noticeable infrastructure news for Canadian travel this summer. Montreal has gained a real second passenger option, Porter has a new base for expansion, Pascan has a stronger platform for regional connections, and tourists have more options for flights within the country.

The most important thing for travelers is not to perceive MET as just another name for Montreal-Trudeau. It is a separate airport with its own logistics and routing role. If YHU and YUL are compared correctly, the new terminal can make travel in Canada faster and more convenient. If the airport code is not checked, the advantage can easily turn into unnecessary stress before the flight.

Sources: official statement from MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport dated June 22, 2026, MET pages on destinations and transport, as well as publications from Aviation24.be and PAX regarding the start of commercial flights from the new terminal.