Porter Airlines Sets Montreal Expansion Schedule

Porter Airlines will launch service from Montreal’s newly rebuilt Metropolitan Airport on 15 June, rapidly expanding to more than double its service in the metro area. Previously known as Saint Hubert Longueuil Airport, the newly named “MET” will see up to 138 weekly departures from Porter as the carrier looks to shift demand away from Montreal’s Trudeau Airport (YUL).

Porter is bringing a wide range of flight options to the airport, along with a genuine commitment to the community.… We are eager to begin this journey with an unprecedented amount of new service.

– Michael Deluce, CEO, Porter Airlines

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The carrier suggests the airport’s location is more convenient than Trudeau for more than half the region’s population. And, as a smaller facility passengers should be able to move through more quickly, further improving the passenger experience. Speaking to the facility’s convenience, YHU Infrastructure Partners president and CEO Charles Roberge notes, “The terminal has been designed to make every step before boarding simpler, faster and more comfortable — from arrival at the Terminal to the gate.”

Massive Growth Plans at MET Airport

Initial plans, announced in February 2023, called for the new terminal to be completed by the end of 2024. That clearly came up short, but Porter is wasting no time in growing now that the facility is available.

Porter will launch with five routes on opening day, ramping up to a dozen within a week. It pitches YHU as the “center of a cross-country network” and is actively selling connections via the airport. A trip from St John’s to Edmonton, for example, offers connections at the new MET airport, plus Toronto-Pearson and Ottawa.

Four of the initial routes are flagged as seasonal by the carrier.

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As promised when the carrier announced its plans to operate at YHU, Porter is heavily focused on the Montreal-Toronto market. Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto will see 27 weekly trips from MET while Pearson will see 20 weekly departures. These are in addition to the load at Montreal-Trudeau on the current schedule.

Porter will not be alone in operating at the new terminal. Two small commuter operations run from YHU today and will continue to do so with the new facility in service. Combined they typically operate a half dozen flights, mostly on 34 or 50 seat planes. Porter’s presence will massively shift that vibe, though it partnered with Pascan, one of the local carriers, to offer additional connectivity at MET.

Of note, this is not the first time an airport set up for competition with Trudeau. Mirabel proved a debacle from a commercial operations perspective. MET’s positioning and catchment should help it avoid a similar fate, though no guarantees.