Montreal Metropolitan Airport (YHU)

Montreal’s new Metropolitan Airport welcomes first commercial flights

Share

The new Montreal Metropolitan Airport (MET) officially opened to commercial passengers on 15 June 2026, marking the launch of a secondary airport for the Greater Montreal region and the start of operations at the new YHU passenger terminal.

The milestone was celebrated with a traditional water-cannon salute for the inaugural Porter Airlines flight from MET to Vancouver, as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local and provincial officials.

A second airport for Greater Montreal

Located at Saint-Hubert on Montreal’s South Shore, MET is designed to complement Montréal–Trudeau International Airport by handling commercial traffic operated with single-aisle aircraft and providing additional capacity for the region’s growing air travel market.

Airport officials say the new facility aims to offer:

  • Faster and simpler passenger processing.
  • Additional airline capacity for the Montreal market.
  • Improved regional and domestic connectivity.
  • New economic and tourism opportunities for Quebec.

Porter launches 11 routes

Porter Airlines is the first major carrier to operate from the new terminal and is launching 11 routes from MET. The airport will also benefit from an expanded partnership between Porter and Pascan Aviation, strengthening links between major Canadian cities and Quebec’s regional communities.

Community-focused development

Local authorities highlighted measures introduced to address community concerns, including:

  • A ban on overnight flights.
  • Regulated operating hours.
  • Air-quality monitoring systems.
  • Road improvements valued at C$8.2 million funded by the project developers.

The city also expects the airport to generate more than C$6 million annually in property tax revenues while supporting the region’s aerospace sector and broader economic development.

Strategic significance

The new terminal is operated by YHU Infrastructure Partners, a joint venture between Porter Aviation Holdings and Macquarie Asset Management.

For Montreal, the opening represents the creation of a true two-airport system, similar to those found in many major metropolitan areas worldwide. Airport and government officials believe the new facility will enhance connectivity, stimulate tourism, support business growth, and strengthen Quebec’s position as a major aerospace hub.

This post was published on 16 June 2026 17:16

André Orban

M. Sc. Engineering

Published by
André Orban

Recent Posts

Romanian airline Dan Air files for insolvency amid €10 million environmental debt

Romanian carrier seeks protection from creditors as total liabilities reach €25.4 million; flight operations face…

23 October 2026

Jetstar bans passenger after he inflates life jacket during safety demonstration

Jetstar and Qantas have banned an Australian social media personality from flying with their airlines…

23 October 2026

Flemish Government suspends new Brussels Airport flight plan over noise concerns

The Flemish Government has invoked a conflict of interest against the proposed changes to flight…

23 October 2026

Brussels Airport to expand border controls as EES delays persist, government registration kiosks remain offline

Brussels Airport will add eight manual border-control positions for arriving passengers by the end of…

23 October 2026

Typhoon Champi forces cancellation of more than 600 flights in Taiwan

Typhoon Champi has disrupted air travel across Taiwan, forcing the cancellation of more than 600…

23 October 2026

Copenhagen Airport faces major security queues after new screening requirements

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is experiencing major queues at security screening after new requirements introduced by…

23 October 2026