Montréal Metropolitan Airport opens as Porter Airlines launches 11 routes
A new passenger terminal has opened at Montréal Metropolitan Airport, giving Greater Montreal a second commercial airport option as Porter Airlines launches a new wave of domestic routes across Canada.
The privately backed project has transformed the former Saint-Hubert Airport, now branded MET – Montréal Metropolitan Airport, into a compact commercial gateway on the city’s South Shore.
Porter Airlines began operations from the new terminal on 15 June 2026, with initial flights to Vancouver, Toronto Pearson, Toronto City and St John’s.
Montréal Metropolitan Airport starts commercial passenger flights
For decades, Greater Montreal’s scheduled commercial traffic has been concentrated at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The opening of MET’s new passenger terminal is intended to give travellers another option, particularly those living on the South Shore or seeking a smaller, faster airport experience.
Located in Longueuil, around 20km from downtown Montreal, the airport has been developed by YHU Infrastructure Partners with backing from Porter Airlines, Macquarie Asset Management and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Although MET is being positioned as a new commercial gateway, the airport itself has a much longer history. Saint-Hubert Airport first opened in 1927 and has more recently been used mainly for general aviation, flight training and cargo operations.
The new terminal, which opened on 15 June, marks the return of regular scheduled commercial passenger services and gives Montreal a second airport serving domestic travellers.
MET airport designed to complement Montréal-Trudeau
Construction of the new passenger terminal began in August 2023. The building covers around 21,000 square metres and includes nine boarding bridges, a 900-seat passenger lounge, two baggage carousels and facilities designed to process up to 15,000 passengers per day during peak periods.
Airport executives have stressed that MET is intended to complement Montréal–Trudeau, rather than replace it. The airport is being pitched as part of a two-airport system, similar to other major cities where secondary airports serve the same wider catchment area with a different passenger proposition.
At full capacity, MET is expected to handle up to four million passengers annually. Porter Airlines has previously said the airport could become one of Canada’s 10 busiest within two years if demand develops as expected.
“This new terminal is the result of a collaborative process involving citizens and elected officials, a process that began long before the ground-breaking ceremony,” said Simon-Pierre Diamond, interim president of Montréal Metropolitan Airport.
“Today, we are proud to see that 80% of the population on Montreal’s South Shore supports the project,” he added.
Porter Airlines launches first MET airport routes
Porter Airlines launched its first flights from Montréal Metropolitan Airport on the same day the new terminal opened. The first four routes connected MET with Vancouver, Toronto Pearson, Toronto City and St John’s.
The airline will operate from MET using its 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops and 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 jets. Both aircraft types feature a two-by-two seating configuration, meaning there are no middle seats.
Over the next week, Porter will introduce flights to 11 airports across the country from the new airport, just in time for the summer travel season.
Passenger traffic at the Metropolitan Airport is projected to hit one million in its first year, climbing to four million annually at full capacity, according to a Porter Airlines statement.
Porter expands across Greater Montreal
Porter said its new MET operation, combined with its existing services at Montréal–Trudeau, will nearly double its capacity in Greater Montreal this summer.
The airline’s partnership with regional carrier Pascan Aviation is also expected to support onward connections across Quebec, the Maritimes and Porter’s wider North American network.
“Starting new routes is something that we often do, but launching 11 at once from a new airport to transform a city’s connectivity is exceptional,” said Michael Deluce, CEO of Porter Airlines.
“This is truly meaningful for Montreal’s people, economy and tourism, and we are proud to be a part of it. Demand is already exceeding our expectations, and as soon as travellers discover Porter’s unique offering, combined with Montréal Metropolitan Airport’s comfort and convenience, they will have a new appreciation for air travel.”
Featured image: Porter Airlines
