Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
Encyclopedia
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport or Montréal-Trudeau, formerly known as Montréal-Dorval International Airport, is located on the Island of Montreal
, 20 km (12.4 mi) from Montreal
's downtown core
. The airport terminals are located entirely in Dorval, while the Air Canada headquarters complex and one runway is located in Saint-Laurent
, Montreal
. It is an international airport
serving Greater Montreal, along with the regions of northern Vermont
and New York
.
The airport is one of two managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal
(ADM), a not-for-profit corporation
without share capital
; the other airport is Montréal-Mirabel
northwest of Montreal, which was initially intended to replace the one in Dorval but now deals almost solely with cargo. Montréal-Trudeau is owned by Transport Canada
, which has a 60-year lease with Aéroports de Montréal, as per Canada's National Airport Policy of 1994
.
Trudeau is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec
, the third busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic and fourth busiest by aircraft movements, with 12,969,834 passengers and 217,545 movements in 2010. It is one of eight Canadian airports with United States border preclearance
and is one of the main gateways into Canada with 8,006,142 or 61.7% of its passengers being on non-domestic flights, the highest proportion amongst Canada's airports during 2010. It is one of four Air Canada
hubs
, and, in that capacity, serves mainly Quebec, the Atlantic Provinces
and Eastern Ontario
. The air route between YUL and Toronto Pearson International Airport
is currently the 14th busiest air route in the world, in terms of flights per week, while the air route between YUL and Paris-Charles de Gaulle is the 8th busiest in terms of passengers carried (1.1 million) between Europe and a non-European destination.
Airlines servicing Trudeau offer flights to Africa
, Western Asia, the Caribbean
, Central America
, South America
, Europe
, Mexico
, the United States
, and other destinations within Canada. The airport is headquarters and large Hub for Air Canada, the country's largest airline, charter airlines, Air Inuit
, Air Transat
and Sunwing Airlines
. It also serves as a base of operations for CanJet
. It also plays a role in general aviation
as home to the headquarters of Innotech-Execair, Starlink, ACASS and Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facilities of Air Canada, Air Transat, MJet and ExcelTech. Transport Canada operates a Civil Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility on site, with a fleet of Government owned and operated civil aircraft. Bombardier Aerospace
has an assembly facility on site to build regional jet
s and Challenger business jet
s.
purchased the land at the Dorval Race Track, thus ensuring the best possible location for the new airport. Montréal-Dorval International Airport went into operation on September 1, 1941, as RCAF Station Lachine
with three paved runway
s. By 1946, the airport was already hosting more than a quarter of a million passengers a year, growing to more than a million by the mid-1950s. It was primarily chosen as an airport because of good weather and few fog
gy days. During World War II
thousands of Allied
aircraft passed through Dorval on the way to England
. At one time Dorval was the major transatlantic hub for commercial aviation
and the busiest airport in Canada with airlines such as British Overseas Airways Corporation
(B.O.A.C) landing at Dorval en route to New York City
.
. It was the largest terminal in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. Montréal-Dorval International Airport was the gateway to Canada for all European air traffic, serving more than two million passengers a year. Eight years later, Montréal-Dorval International Airport underwent a major expansion program. The Government of Canada
predicted that Dorval would be completely saturated by 1985, and also projected that 20 million passengers would be passing through Montreal's airports annually. They decided to construct a new airport in Sainte-Scholastique (Montréal-Mirabel International Airport). As the first phase in the transition that would eventually see Dorval closed, international flights were to be transferred to the new airport in 1975.
went into service. With an operations zone of 70 km² (27 sq mi) and a buffer zone of 290 km² (112 sq mi), it became the largest airport in the world. Many connecting flights to Canadian centres were transferred to Montréal-Mirabel and 23 international airlines moved their overseas activities there. As a consequence, the mission of Montréal-Dorval was redefined to encompass domestic flights and flights to the United States. Mirabel's traffic decreased due to the advent in the 1980s of longer-range jets that did not need to refuel in Montreal before crossing the Atlantic Ocean
. Montreal's economic decline in the late 1970s and 1980s had a significant effect on the airport's traffic, as international flights shifted away from Dorval to Toronto Pearson
, which serves the larger urban centre of Toronto
. The Trudeau government had developed Mirabel Airport to handle an expected growth in international traffic, and, eventually, to replace Dorval. That extra traffic never materialized, and due to its closer proximity to downtown Montreal, all scheduled air services have now returned to Dorval/Trudeau, while Mirabel ceased passenger operations in 2004. In May 2007, it was reported that the International Center of Advanced Racing had signed a 25 year lease with Aéroports de Montréal to use part of the airport as a race track. At the same time fixed base operator
, Hélibellule, opened a facility at the site to cater for the private jets that were expected. The company also provides a passenger service from Mirabel to destinations in Canada and the United States. They operate three different types of helicopter
s; Bell 222
, Robinson R22
and Aérospatiale Gazelle
.
With all international scheduled flights going back to Montréal-Dorval in 1997, as well as charter flights in 2004, Montréal-Dorval International Airport was finally able to become a true hub, where passengers would not have to travel to different airports depending on the type of flight. The consolidation of flights to Montréal-Dorval resulted in an increase of passenger traffic, not only because of transfer of flights, but because of new connecting opportunities. In 2000, 9.4 million passengers used the airport at a time when the maximum capacity was 7 million. In 2010, the airport handled 12,969,834 passengers, a new record.
}Statistics prior to 2004 are from Transport Canada
. From 2004 on statistics are from ADM. Transport Canada's statistics are consistently lower than those of ADM. For example TC passenger numbers for 2004 are 9,369,584.
, taking in 7 diverted flights that had been bound for the closed airspace
over the United States, even though pilots were asked to avoid the airport as a security measure. Mirabel International Airport also took in 10 other diverted flights totaling 17 diverted flight in the Montreal area bound for American cities.
, Canada's military response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake
, the airport was the official gateway for repatriation flights from Haiti. As of January 24, 2010, 2,327 individuals have been evacuated, mostly on Canadian military CC-177 Globemaster III and CC-130 Hercules aircraft.
in honour of former Canadian Prime Minister
, the late Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau
, on January 1, 2004, the renaming having been announced in September the previous year by then Minister of Transport David Collenette
. This move provoked some opposition, especially Quebec sovereignists
opposed to some of the policies of the former prime minister, as well as opposition from many aviation historians and enthusiasts who recalled Trudeau's role as an opponent of the airport, planning to close it in favour of Mirabel Airport. Many Montrealers still refer to Trudeau airport as "Dorval," or "Dorval Airport."
(STM) presently has four regular bus routes serving Trudeau International Airport, including route "204 Cardinal" seven days a week, route "209 Sources" Monday to Friday, and route "356 Lachine /Montreal-Trudeau /Des Sources" and 378 Sauvé /Côte-Vertu /Montreal-Trudeau night buses. Three of the four routes can take passengers to and from the Dorval bus terminus and train station
, within walking distance of the VIA's Dorval station
. A shuttle bus
runs between the airport and VIA's Dorval station.
On March 29, 2010, the STM introduced the 747 Express Bus
route. Operating 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year, this route connects the airport to eight downtown stops, including transfer stops at Lionel-Groulx
metro station, Central Station, and Berri-UQAM
metro station. The service runs every 10–12 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m, every 30 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., and every hour from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. Regular bus fare is not accepted; the minimum tariff is a day pass, with all other STM pass-type fares (3-day, weekly and monthly) also accepted.
Prior to the introduction of this public transportation service, Groupe La Québécoise
operated a coach service known as L'Aerobus between the airport and Central Station, connecting with several hotels downtown.
Montréal-Trudeau underwent a major expansion and modernization designed to increase the terminal's capacity and substantially enhance the level of passenger service. In February 2000, with a budget of C$
716 million, ADM announced plans for an extensive expansion plan that would bring Montréal-Trudeau up to standard with other North American airports its size. The airport terminal had for the most part remained the same, with the exception of minor renovations, since its opening in the 1960s. With increased passenger volume resulting from the transfer of international scheduled passengers from Mirabel Airport in 1997, as well as Air Canada's intentions to make Montréal-Dorval its Eastern Canada
hub, there was a strong need to greatly expand the terminal, whose capacity of roughly 7 million passengers per year had been exceeded.
The expansion program included the construction of several brand-new facilities, including a jetty for flights to the United States (US Preclearance Terminal), another for other international destinations (International Terminal), and a huge international arrivals complex. A 18-gate Transborder Concourse, an 11-gate
International Concourse, new customs hall and baggage claim
area for non-domestic flights, and an expanded parking garage, were built between 2000 and 2005. Additionally, sections of the domestic area were renovated and expanded, accompanied with additional retail space. The International part of the Aeroquay satellite was demolished, leaving the domestic part for regional carriers. The completion of the CAD$716 million expansion gives Montréal-Trudeau the ability to serve 15 million passengers a year. This ironically accomplished one of the goals that was to be met with the construction of Mirabel. (In the 1970s, the federal government projected that 20 million passengers would be passing through Montreal's airports annually by 1985, with 17 million through Mirabel). Aéroports de Montréal financed all of these improvements itself, with no government grants. By the end of 2007, $1.5 billion had been spent to upgrade Montréal-Trudeau.
hotel at the airport, above the transborder terminal. Originally scheduled to be completed by September 2008, the 279 first-class room hotel opened its doors on 19 August 2009. Construction was slowed down because of the recession and a collapse in the Transborder market. It will eventually contain an underground train station to connect it with downtown Montreal as well as ADM's corporate headquarters, currently located in downtown Montreal.
On the same day, Montreal-Trudeau airport opened the doors to the refurbished, expanded, modernized and user-friendly transborder terminal, meeting the industry's highest standards. This increased the total area of the terminal from 9320 square metre. Furthermore, the terminal is equipped with a new baggage sorting room which allows U.S. customs officers to retrieve luggage for secondary inspection.
. The airport will therefore have two gates able to handle the A380.
As of May 2011, photographs, films and animated works from the National Film Board of Canada
, which is headquartered in Montreal, are on display as part of the airport's Montreal Identity/L'Aerogalerie program.
Aéroports de Montréal, the City of Montreal, Transports Québec
and Transport Canada are planning to improve the Dorval interchange and build direct road links between the airport and highways 20
and 520
. Once the certificate of authorization has been obtained, work began in June 2009 with a potential end date of 2013. The project will entail redesigning the roads network within the airport site.
, and the Agence métropolitaine de transport
(Metropolitan Transit Agency) have jointly developed a wide-ranging proposal that includes the enhancement of commuter train and inter-city train service between Downtown Montreal and the West Island
of Montreal. On June 17, 2010, Gare Centrale was chosen as the final destination for the rail link, with construction expected to be completed between 2013 and 2015.
The Quebec provincial budget of 2010 set aside $200 million for this project. However, as this project will likely cost over $1 billion, there remains a vast financial gap to fill.
The main issue with the project, aside from cost, is how it will improve public transit on the West Island. If the project is exclusively to the airport from downtown, it will have no impact for the west island community. But if it continued to Ste Anne de Bellevue, then it could be a marked improvement, just as Canada Line
has done for Richmond
in British Columbia
.
The last round of construction improved Montréal-Trudeau so that it is prepared to handle the new Airbus A380
. An Airbus-marked aircraft (MSN007) took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and landed at Montréal–Trudeau on 12 November 2007 with some 500 guests aboard. It left Montreal on 13 November to go to Orlando International Airport
in Florida
(United States). It returned to Montreal on 15 November, continuing to Paris
on the same day, and then back to its Toulouse
base.
As part of the 60th anniversary of Air France in Canada celebrations, Air France sent their Airbus 380 to Montreal-Trudeau on their AF346/347 scheduled flight on October 7, 2010 as a one-day special flight. It was also the first A380 of Air France to land in Canada. See the official landing video
Air France
became the first operator of the type in Montreal on April 22, 2011 when they officially launched its daily A380 service to Montreal. They are using gate 55, which is equipped with two air bridges to load and unload passengers on both decks of the A380 simultaneously.
The International concourse is B and it holds traffic of those airlines travelling outside Canada and the U.S. In 2010, the airport handled nearly 5 million passengers on international flights, making it the 2nd busiest airport in Canada in terms of international passenger traffic.
The International terminal holds 13 gates: 50–53A, 53B–61. Finally Concourse C is dedicated to U.S. bound flights. It holds 18 gates: 72–89.
in the International Jetty, on the higher level, at gate B55, their A380 gate. Servisair offers a pay-per-use and membership VIP lounge in the International Jetty
Island of Montreal
The Island of Montreal , in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. It is separated from Île Jésus by the Rivière des Prairies....
, 20 km (12.4 mi) from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
's downtown core
Downtown Montreal
Downtown Montreal is the central business district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is nearly enitirely located at the southern most slope of Mount Royal and is approximately bounded by Sherbrooke Street to the north, Papineau Avenue to the east, Guy Street or until Shaughnessy Village to the west,...
. The airport terminals are located entirely in Dorval, while the Air Canada headquarters complex and one runway is located in Saint-Laurent
Saint-Laurent, Quebec
Saint-Laurent is a former city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is now the largest in area of the boroughs of the city of Montreal....
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. It is an international airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
serving Greater Montreal, along with the regions of northern Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The airport is one of two managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal
Aéroports de Montréal
Aéroports de Montréal is the main airport authority in Greater Montreal, headquartered in Suite 1000 of the Leigh-Capreol Place in Dorval, Quebec. It is responsible for both Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and Montréal-Mirabel International Airport...
(ADM), a not-for-profit corporation
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
without share capital
Share capital
Share capital or issued capital or capital stock refers to the portion of a company's equity that has been obtained by trading stock to a shareholder for cash or an equivalent item of capital value...
; the other airport is Montréal-Mirabel
Montréal-Mirabel International Airport
Montréal-Mirabel International Airport, originally called Montréal International Airport and widely known simply as Mirabel is an airport located in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, northwest of Montreal and was opened October 4, 1975...
northwest of Montreal, which was initially intended to replace the one in Dorval but now deals almost solely with cargo. Montréal-Trudeau is owned by Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
, which has a 60-year lease with Aéroports de Montréal, as per Canada's National Airport Policy of 1994
National Airports Policy (Canada)
The National Airports Policy is a program of the Government of Canada involving the privatization or private operation of nearly all of the country's airports that was commenced during the 1990s....
.
Trudeau is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, the third busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic and fourth busiest by aircraft movements, with 12,969,834 passengers and 217,545 movements in 2010. It is one of eight Canadian airports with United States border preclearance
United States border preclearance
The United States operates border preclearance facilities at a number of ports and airports in foreign countries. They are staffed and operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Travelers pass through Immigration and Customs, Public Health, and Department of Agriculture inspections...
and is one of the main gateways into Canada with 8,006,142 or 61.7% of its passengers being on non-domestic flights, the highest proportion amongst Canada's airports during 2010. It is one of four Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
hubs
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
, and, in that capacity, serves mainly Quebec, the Atlantic Provinces
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
and Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
. The air route between YUL and Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
is currently the 14th busiest air route in the world, in terms of flights per week, while the air route between YUL and Paris-Charles de Gaulle is the 8th busiest in terms of passengers carried (1.1 million) between Europe and a non-European destination.
Airlines servicing Trudeau offer flights to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Western Asia, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and other destinations within Canada. The airport is headquarters and large Hub for Air Canada, the country's largest airline, charter airlines, Air Inuit
Air Inuit
Air Inuit Ltd is an airline based in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. It operates domestic passenger services and charter and cargo services in Nunavik and Nunavut. Its main base is Kuujjuaq Airport.-History:...
, Air Transat
Air Transat
Air Transat is an airline based in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, operating scheduled and charter flights, serving 60 destinations in 25 countries. The airline is owned and operated by Transat A.T. Inc. During the summer season its main destinations are Europe and in the winter season the...
and Sunwing Airlines
Sunwing Airlines
Sunwing Airlines Inc. is an airline headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, offering scheduled and chartered services to Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Central America, South America as well as domestic services during the summer season.It is a subsidiary of Sunwing...
. It also serves as a base of operations for CanJet
CanJet
CanJet Airlines is a low-cost chartered airline based in Enfield and in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada at the Halifax International Airport. It operates contract and ad hoc charters throughout Canada and the United States...
. It also plays a role in general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
as home to the headquarters of Innotech-Execair, Starlink, ACASS and Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facilities of Air Canada, Air Transat, MJet and ExcelTech. Transport Canada operates a Civil Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility on site, with a fleet of Government owned and operated civil aircraft. Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
has an assembly facility on site to build regional jet
Regional jet
A Regional jet , is a class of short to medium-range turbofan powered airliners.-History:The term "Regional jet" describes a range of short to medium-haul turbofan powered aircraft, whose use throughout the world expanded after the advent of Airline Deregulation in the United States in...
s and Challenger business jet
Business jet
Business jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals...
s.
Early days
The birth of Dorval Airport was in the 1940s. At the time, it was becoming clear that the Saint-Hubert Airport (Montreal's first official airport, in operation since 1927) could no longer meet the city's growing aviation needs. The Minister of TransportMinister of Transport (Canada)
The Minister of Transport is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's transportation regulatory and development department, Transport Canada...
purchased the land at the Dorval Race Track, thus ensuring the best possible location for the new airport. Montréal-Dorval International Airport went into operation on September 1, 1941, as RCAF Station Lachine
RCAF Station Lachine
RCAF Station Lachine was a Royal Canadian Air Force station located near Lachine and Dorval, Quebec, Canada, to the west of Montreal. The location of the station was Dorval Airport, which became the Montréal-Dorval International Airport .RCAF Station Lachine began operation in 1941 as a transit...
with three paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s. By 1946, the airport was already hosting more than a quarter of a million passengers a year, growing to more than a million by the mid-1950s. It was primarily chosen as an airport because of good weather and few fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
gy days. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
thousands of Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
aircraft passed through Dorval on the way to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. At one time Dorval was the major transatlantic hub for commercial aviation
Commercial aviation
Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo...
and the busiest airport in Canada with airlines such as British Overseas Airways Corporation
British Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
(B.O.A.C) landing at Dorval en route to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Growth
In November 1960, the airport was renamed Montreal-Dorval International Airport/Aéroport international Dorval de Montréal. On December 15 of that year, the Minister of Transport inaugurated a new $30 million terminalAirport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
. It was the largest terminal in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. Montréal-Dorval International Airport was the gateway to Canada for all European air traffic, serving more than two million passengers a year. Eight years later, Montréal-Dorval International Airport underwent a major expansion program. The Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
predicted that Dorval would be completely saturated by 1985, and also projected that 20 million passengers would be passing through Montreal's airports annually. They decided to construct a new airport in Sainte-Scholastique (Montréal-Mirabel International Airport). As the first phase in the transition that would eventually see Dorval closed, international flights were to be transferred to the new airport in 1975.
The opening and closing of Mirabel Airport
On November 29, 1975, Montréal-Mirabel International AirportMontréal-Mirabel International Airport
Montréal-Mirabel International Airport, originally called Montréal International Airport and widely known simply as Mirabel is an airport located in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, northwest of Montreal and was opened October 4, 1975...
went into service. With an operations zone of 70 km² (27 sq mi) and a buffer zone of 290 km² (112 sq mi), it became the largest airport in the world. Many connecting flights to Canadian centres were transferred to Montréal-Mirabel and 23 international airlines moved their overseas activities there. As a consequence, the mission of Montréal-Dorval was redefined to encompass domestic flights and flights to the United States. Mirabel's traffic decreased due to the advent in the 1980s of longer-range jets that did not need to refuel in Montreal before crossing the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Montreal's economic decline in the late 1970s and 1980s had a significant effect on the airport's traffic, as international flights shifted away from Dorval to Toronto Pearson
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
, which serves the larger urban centre of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The Trudeau government had developed Mirabel Airport to handle an expected growth in international traffic, and, eventually, to replace Dorval. That extra traffic never materialized, and due to its closer proximity to downtown Montreal, all scheduled air services have now returned to Dorval/Trudeau, while Mirabel ceased passenger operations in 2004. In May 2007, it was reported that the International Center of Advanced Racing had signed a 25 year lease with Aéroports de Montréal to use part of the airport as a race track. At the same time fixed base operator
Fixed base operator
A Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
, Hélibellule, opened a facility at the site to cater for the private jets that were expected. The company also provides a passenger service from Mirabel to destinations in Canada and the United States. They operate three different types of helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s; Bell 222
Bell 222
The Bell 222 is a twin-engined light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. The Bell 230 is an improved development with different engines and other minor changes. A cosmetically modified version of the 222 was used as the titular aircraft in the US television series Airwolf.-Development:In the late...
, Robinson R22
Robinson R22
The Robinson R22 is a two-bladed, single-engine light utility helicopter manufactured by Robinson Helicopter. The two-seat R22 was designed in 1973 by Frank Robinson and has been in production since 1979.-Development:...
and Aérospatiale Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
.
Back to Montréal-Dorval, renaissance
| Year | Total Passengers | % change | Domestic | % change | International | % change | Transborder | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8,079,928 | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– |
| 2002 | 7,589,708 | −6.1% | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– |
| 2003 | 7,761,184 | +2.3% | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– | –––– |
| 2004 | 10,335,768 | –––– | 4,322,145 | –––– | 3,162,534 | –––– | 2,851,089 | –––– |
| 2005 | 10,892,778 | +5.4% | 4,446,976 | +2.9% | 3,461,371 | +9.4% | 2,984,431 | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 11,441,202 | +5.0% | 4,653,599 | +4.6% | 3,708,264 | +7.1% | 3,079,339 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 12,817,969 | +12.0% | 5,393,576 | +15.9% | 4,245,642 | +14.5% | 3,178,751 | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 12,813,320 | 0.0% | 5,278,945 | −2.1% | 4,465,589 | +5.2% | 3,068,786 | −3.5% |
| 2009 | 12,224,534 | −4.6% | 4,793,177 | −9.2% | 4,567,686 | +2.3% | 2,863,671 | −6.7% |
| 2010 | 12,969,834 | +6.1% | 4,963,692 | +3.7% | 4,856,275 | +6.2% | 3,149,867 | +10.0% |
| 2011 (YTD) | 10,609,723 | +6.1% | 3,945,318 | +5.3% | 4,184,606 | +8.6% | 2,479,799 | +3.4% |
| Total (2004–2010) | 83,495,405 | 28,888,418 | 28,574,778 | 21,175,934 |
}Statistics prior to 2004 are from Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
. From 2004 on statistics are from ADM. Transport Canada's statistics are consistently lower than those of ADM. For example TC passenger numbers for 2004 are 9,369,584.
Operation Yellow Ribbon
On September 11, 2001, Dorval Airport participated in Operation Yellow RibbonOperation Yellow Ribbon
Operation Yellow Ribbon was commenced by Transport Canada to handle the diversion of civilian airline flights in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001. Canada’s goal was to ensure that potentially destructive air traffic be removed from U.S. airspace as quickly as possible, and away from...
, taking in 7 diverted flights that had been bound for the closed airspace
Airspace
Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere....
over the United States, even though pilots were asked to avoid the airport as a security measure. Mirabel International Airport also took in 10 other diverted flights totaling 17 diverted flight in the Montreal area bound for American cities.
Operation Hestia
As part of Operation HestiaOperation Hestia
Operation Hestia is the name of the Canadian Forces humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January, 2010. Operation Hestia is the military component of an interagency response that also involves Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian...
, Canada's military response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, the airport was the official gateway for repatriation flights from Haiti. As of January 24, 2010, 2,327 individuals have been evacuated, mostly on Canadian military CC-177 Globemaster III and CC-130 Hercules aircraft.
Renaming
The airport was renamed by the federal governmentPolitics of Canada
The politics of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state...
in honour of former Canadian Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, the late Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, on January 1, 2004, the renaming having been announced in September the previous year by then Minister of Transport David Collenette
David Collenette
David Michael Collenette, PC was a Canadian politician from 1974 to 2004, and a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. A graduate from York University's Glendon College in 1969, he subsequently received his MA from in 2004...
. This move provoked some opposition, especially Quebec sovereignists
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
opposed to some of the policies of the former prime minister, as well as opposition from many aviation historians and enthusiasts who recalled Trudeau's role as an opponent of the airport, planning to close it in favour of Mirabel Airport. Many Montrealers still refer to Trudeau airport as "Dorval," or "Dorval Airport."
Current public transport
The Société de transport de MontréalSociété de transport de Montréal
The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
(STM) presently has four regular bus routes serving Trudeau International Airport, including route "204 Cardinal" seven days a week, route "209 Sources" Monday to Friday, and route "356 Lachine /Montreal-Trudeau /Des Sources" and 378 Sauvé /Côte-Vertu /Montreal-Trudeau night buses. Three of the four routes can take passengers to and from the Dorval bus terminus and train station
Dorval (AMT)
Dorval is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. The AMT station and the VIA rail station are within walking distance of each other....
, within walking distance of the VIA's Dorval station
Dorval (VIA)
Dorval is a Via Rail station in the city of Dorval, Quebec, Canada. It is adjacent to the Dorval AMT station which is operated by commuter train agency AMT, although the stations do not share any platforms. The two stations are within walking distance of each other.It is a stop for all trains on...
. A shuttle bus
Airport bus
An airport bus, or airport shuttle bus or airport shuttle is a bus or coach used to transport people to/from, or within airports. These vehicles will usually be equipped with larger luggage space, and incorporate special branding....
runs between the airport and VIA's Dorval station.
On March 29, 2010, the STM introduced the 747 Express Bus
747 Express Bus
The 747 Express Bus runs between Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Gare d'autocars de Montreal, the downtown bus terminal, which is connected to the Montreal Metro at the Berri-UQAM station...
route. Operating 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year, this route connects the airport to eight downtown stops, including transfer stops at Lionel-Groulx
Lionel-Groulx (Montreal Metro)
Lionel-Groulx is a station of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Saint-Henri area of the borough of Le Sud-Ouest in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is a transfer station between the Green Line and Orange Line.The station...
metro station, Central Station, and Berri-UQAM
Berri-UQAM (Montreal Metro)
Berri-UQAM is the central station of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Quartier Latin, in the borough of Ville-Marie, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The station opened on October 14, 1966, as part of the original network...
metro station. The service runs every 10–12 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m, every 30 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., and every hour from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. Regular bus fare is not accepted; the minimum tariff is a day pass, with all other STM pass-type fares (3-day, weekly and monthly) also accepted.
Prior to the introduction of this public transportation service, Groupe La Québécoise
Groupe La Québécoise
Groupe La Québécoise is a passenger transportation company based in Quebec, Canada. The company started out in 1965 by providing student transportation for school boards in the Quebec City area, and has progressed into providing intercity bus service, public transit, paratransit, airport shuttles...
operated a coach service known as L'Aerobus between the airport and Central Station, connecting with several hotels downtown.
Société de transport de Montréal
| Route | Destination | Service Times | Map | Schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Société de transport de Montréal (STM)| 204 Cardinal | Westbound to Terminus Fairview Pointe-Claire with stops at Pine Beach and Valois Train Stations, Eastbound to Dorval (AMT) | Dorval (AMT) Dorval is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. The AMT station and the VIA rail station are within walking distance of each other.... Vaudreuil-Hudson Commuter Rail Line All-day | Map | Schedule | 209 Des Sources | Northbound to Dorval (AMT) | Dorval (AMT) Dorval is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. The AMT station and the VIA rail station are within walking distance of each other.... and Roxboro-Pierrefonds (AMT) Roxboro-Pierrefonds (AMT) Roxboro-Pierrefonds is a commuter rail station on the AMT Deux-Montagnes Line in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area. The station is located at the boundary between the former cities of Roxboro and Pierrefonds.- Société de transport de Montréal :... Train Stations Vaudreuil-Hudson Commuter Rail Line Deux-Montagnes Line Commuter Rail Line Monday to Friday All-day | Map | Schedule | 747 Express Bus | 747 Express Bus The 747 Express Bus runs between Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Gare d'autocars de Montreal, the downtown bus terminal, which is connected to the Montreal Metro at the Berri-UQAM station... Eastbound to Downtown Montreal with stops at Lionel-Groulx Station | Lionel-Groulx (Montreal Metro) Lionel-Groulx is a station of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Saint-Henri area of the borough of Le Sud-Ouest in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is a transfer station between the Green Line and Orange Line.The station... and Berri-UQAM Metro Station Berri-UQAM (Montreal Metro) Berri-UQAM is the central station of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Quartier Latin, in the borough of Ville-Marie, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The station opened on October 14, 1966, as part of the original network... Metro-Green Line Line 1 Green (Montreal Metro) The Green line is one of the four lines of the metro in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The line runs through the commercial section of downtown Montreal underneath Boulevard de Maisonneuve, formerly Rue de Montigny... Metro-Orange Line Line 2 Orange (Montreal Metro) The Orange line is the longest, most congested, and first-planned of the four lines of the Montreal Metro, in Montreal, Canada. It formed part of the initial network, and was extended between 1980 and 1986... Metro-Yellow Line Line 4 Yellow (Montreal Metro) The Yellow line is one of the metro's four routes operating in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was popular when it opened for service because it connected Montreal's city centre with the Expo 67 exhibition and La Ronde on Île-Sainte-Hélène. Line 4 has three stations, and travels under the St.... 24 Hours | Daily-Year Round Map | Schedule | 356 Lachine /Montreal-Trudeau /Des Sources | Westbound to Lachine | Lachine, Quebec Lachine was a city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is now a borough within the city of Montreal.-History:... with a stop at Dorval Train station Dorval (AMT) Dorval is an intermodal bus and commuter train station in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. The AMT station and the VIA rail station are within walking distance of each other.... and Eastbound to Downtown Montreal with stops at Atwater Metro Station Atwater (Montreal Metro) Atwater is a station on the Green Line of the Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located on the border between the city of Westmount and the borough of Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.... and Frontenac Metro Station Frontenac (Montreal Metro) Frontenac is a station on the Green Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the borough of Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Overview :... . Vaudreuil-Hudson Commuter Rail Line Metro-Green Line Line 1 Green (Montreal Metro) The Green line is one of the four lines of the metro in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The line runs through the commercial section of downtown Montreal underneath Boulevard de Maisonneuve, formerly Rue de Montigny... Overnight | Approximately 1:00 a.m.–5:00 a.m. daily Map | Schedule | 378 Sauvé /Côte-Vertu /Montreal-Trudeau | Eastbound to Saint-Laurent | Saint-Laurent, Quebec Saint-Laurent is a former city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is now the largest in area of the boroughs of the city of Montreal.... with stops at Côte-Vertu Metro Station Côte-Vertu (Montreal Metro) Côte-Vertu is a station on the Orange Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the borough of Saint-Laurent in Montreal, Quebec, Canada .... , Montpellier Train Station Montpellier (AMT) Montpellier is a commuter rail station on the AMT Deux-Montagnes Line in the Greater Montreal, Quebec, Canada area.-Origin of name:Prior to the modernization of the Deux-Montagnes Line, between 1993 and 1995, the station was called Vertu because of its location on Côte-Vertu Boulevard... and Sauvé Metro Station Sauvé (Montreal Metro) Sauvé is a station on the Orange Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Ahuntsic district in the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville in Montreal, Quebec, Canada... . Deux-Montagnes Line Commuter Rail Line Metro-Orange Line Line 2 Orange (Montreal Metro) The Orange line is the longest, most congested, and first-planned of the four lines of the Montreal Metro, in Montreal, Canada. It formed part of the initial network, and was extended between 1980 and 1986... Overnight | Approximately 1:00 a.m.–5:00 a.m. daily Map | Schedule | | ||||
Terminal expansion (2000–2005)
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
716 million, ADM announced plans for an extensive expansion plan that would bring Montréal-Trudeau up to standard with other North American airports its size. The airport terminal had for the most part remained the same, with the exception of minor renovations, since its opening in the 1960s. With increased passenger volume resulting from the transfer of international scheduled passengers from Mirabel Airport in 1997, as well as Air Canada's intentions to make Montréal-Dorval its Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada is generally considered to be the region of Canada east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces:* New Brunswick* Newfoundland and Labrador* Nova Scotia* Ontario* Prince Edward Island* Quebec...
hub, there was a strong need to greatly expand the terminal, whose capacity of roughly 7 million passengers per year had been exceeded.
The expansion program included the construction of several brand-new facilities, including a jetty for flights to the United States (US Preclearance Terminal), another for other international destinations (International Terminal), and a huge international arrivals complex. A 18-gate Transborder Concourse, an 11-gate
Gate (airport)
A gate in aviation is a long, movable, "bridge" that allows passengers to embark and disembark their aircraft.* Jetway bridges* Air stairs, either built into the aircraft or from a mobile vehicle* Mobile lounges...
International Concourse, new customs hall and baggage claim
Baggage claim
In airport terminals, a baggage claim area is an area where arriving passengers claim checked-in baggage after disembarking from an airline flight. The alternative term baggage reclaim is used to mean the same thing at many airports outside the USA In airport terminals, a baggage claim area is an...
area for non-domestic flights, and an expanded parking garage, were built between 2000 and 2005. Additionally, sections of the domestic area were renovated and expanded, accompanied with additional retail space. The International part of the Aeroquay satellite was demolished, leaving the domestic part for regional carriers. The completion of the CAD$716 million expansion gives Montréal-Trudeau the ability to serve 15 million passengers a year. This ironically accomplished one of the goals that was to be met with the construction of Mirabel. (In the 1970s, the federal government projected that 20 million passengers would be passing through Montreal's airports annually by 1985, with 17 million through Mirabel). Aéroports de Montréal financed all of these improvements itself, with no government grants. By the end of 2007, $1.5 billion had been spent to upgrade Montréal-Trudeau.
New hotel, transborder terminal expansion and modernization (2006–2009)
On June 15, 2006, construction began on a new four-star MarriottMarriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
hotel at the airport, above the transborder terminal. Originally scheduled to be completed by September 2008, the 279 first-class room hotel opened its doors on 19 August 2009. Construction was slowed down because of the recession and a collapse in the Transborder market. It will eventually contain an underground train station to connect it with downtown Montreal as well as ADM's corporate headquarters, currently located in downtown Montreal.
On the same day, Montreal-Trudeau airport opened the doors to the refurbished, expanded, modernized and user-friendly transborder terminal, meeting the industry's highest standards. This increased the total area of the terminal from 9320 square metre. Furthermore, the terminal is equipped with a new baggage sorting room which allows U.S. customs officers to retrieve luggage for secondary inspection.
International terminal expansion (2011–2016)
In July 2011, Mr. James Cherry, the CEO of Aéroports de Montreal, announced that they're planning a two-phase expansion of Montréal-Trudeau’s international terminal. He also added that when the expansion project will be completed in 2016, the international terminal will have 17 contact gates compared to 11 currently. In other words, it will be expanded with 6 new gates. Furthermore, 2 remote stands will also be added. The total cost of the project is expected to be between CAD500 million and CAD600 million.Other projects
Starting in 2006, ADM began the next process of land access to upgrade road traffic to the airport, a new parking garage, and the improvement of the domestic terminal. On 30 November 2006, ADM announced plans to relocate numerous hangars at the western part of the airport in order to expand the Transborder and International terminals. In October 2010, it was revealed that the international jetty will be expanded with an addition of four new gates, one of which will be able to accommodate the Airbus A380Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
. The airport will therefore have two gates able to handle the A380.
As of May 2011, photographs, films and animated works from the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
, which is headquartered in Montreal, are on display as part of the airport's Montreal Identity/L'Aerogalerie program.
Dorval interchange
Transports Québec
Le ministère des Transports du Québec , known by its short form name Transports Québec, is a Quebec government ministry responsible for transport infrastructure and law in Quebec, Canada....
and Transport Canada are planning to improve the Dorval interchange and build direct road links between the airport and highways 20
Quebec Autoroute 20
Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec...
and 520
Quebec Autoroute 520
Autoroute 520, Autoroute Côte de Liesse, or Côte-de-Liesse Road connects Autoroute 20 and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Autoroute 40 on Montreal Island.- Interchanges from west to east :...
. Once the certificate of authorization has been obtained, work began in June 2009 with a potential end date of 2013. The project will entail redesigning the roads network within the airport site.
Rail shuttle to downtown Montreal
Aéroports de Montréal is planning to introduce an express rail shuttle service to accelerate access to the airport from the downtown core. This 20 km (12.4 mi) long shuttle, with departures every 20 minutes, would make the trip in under 20 minutes. To this end, Transport Canada, ADM, Via RailVIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
, and the Agence métropolitaine de transport
Agence métropolitaine de transport
The Agence métropolitaine de transport is the umbrella organization that plans, integrates, and coordinates public transportation services across Canada's Greater Montreal Region, including the Island of Montreal, Laval , and communities along both the North Shore of the Rivière des Mille-Îles...
(Metropolitan Transit Agency) have jointly developed a wide-ranging proposal that includes the enhancement of commuter train and inter-city train service between Downtown Montreal and the West Island
West Island
The West Island is the unofficial name given to the western cities and boroughs of the Island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada...
of Montreal. On June 17, 2010, Gare Centrale was chosen as the final destination for the rail link, with construction expected to be completed between 2013 and 2015.
The Quebec provincial budget of 2010 set aside $200 million for this project. However, as this project will likely cost over $1 billion, there remains a vast financial gap to fill.
The main issue with the project, aside from cost, is how it will improve public transit on the West Island. If the project is exclusively to the airport from downtown, it will have no impact for the west island community. But if it continued to Ste Anne de Bellevue, then it could be a marked improvement, just as Canada Line
Canada Line
Canada Line is a rapid transit line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain metro network, servicing Vancouver, Richmond, and the Vancouver International Airport...
has done for Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Airbus A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
. An Airbus-marked aircraft (MSN007) took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and landed at Montréal–Trudeau on 12 November 2007 with some 500 guests aboard. It left Montreal on 13 November to go to Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(United States). It returned to Montreal on 15 November, continuing to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on the same day, and then back to its Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
base.
As part of the 60th anniversary of Air France in Canada celebrations, Air France sent their Airbus 380 to Montreal-Trudeau on their AF346/347 scheduled flight on October 7, 2010 as a one-day special flight. It was also the first A380 of Air France to land in Canada. See the official landing video
Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
became the first operator of the type in Montreal on April 22, 2011 when they officially launched its daily A380 service to Montreal. They are using gate 55, which is equipped with two air bridges to load and unload passengers on both decks of the A380 simultaneously.
Passenger concourses
The airport is divided into three concourses: A, B and C, with each one being used for passenger traffic heading to certain areas. Concourse A is the Domestic terminal and holds 26 gates: 1–12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27–30, 32, 34, 47–49.The International concourse is B and it holds traffic of those airlines travelling outside Canada and the U.S. In 2010, the airport handled nearly 5 million passengers on international flights, making it the 2nd busiest airport in Canada in terms of international passenger traffic.
The International terminal holds 13 gates: 50–53A, 53B–61. Finally Concourse C is dedicated to U.S. bound flights. It holds 18 gates: 72–89.
Lounges
Air Canada has three Maple Leaf Lounges at Montréal-Trudeau: 1 in the Domestic Jetty, 1 in the Transborder Jetty, and 1 in the International Jetty. Air France has a loungeAirport lounge
An airport lounge is a lounge owned by a particular airline . Many offer private meeting rooms, phone, fax, wireless and Internet access and other business services, along with provisions to enhance comfort such as free drinks and snacks...
in the International Jetty, on the higher level, at gate B55, their A380 gate. Servisair offers a pay-per-use and membership VIP lounge in the International Jetty
Airlines and destinations
Some 40 airlines offer non-stop services to more than 120 regular and seasonal destinations worldwide.Airlines and destinations
Charter airlines and destinations
Cargo
Incidents and accidents
- November 29, 1963: Trans-Canada Air LinesTrans-Canada Air LinesTrans-Canada Air Lines was a Canadian airline and operated as the country's flag carrier. Its corporate headquarters were in Montreal, Quebec...
Flight 831Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 831Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 831 was a flight from Montreal-Dorval Airport to Toronto International Airport on November 29, 1963. The aircraft was a four-engine Douglas DC-8-54CF airliner, registered CF-TJN...
crashed shortly after departure for Toronto, killing all 118 people on board the Douglas DC-8Douglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
jet. - June 2, 1982: a Douglas DC-9McDonnell Douglas DC-9The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
jet exploded during a maintenance period in Montreal. No deaths. - July 23, 1983: Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767Boeing 767The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
flight originating in Dorval made an emergency landing in Gimli, ManitobaGimli, ManitobaGimli is a a rural municipality located in the Interlake region of south-central Manitoba, Canada, on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. It is about north of the provincial capital Winnipeg...
after running out of fuel. No one was injured, and the incident became known as the Gimli GliderGimli GliderThe Gimli Glider is the nickname of the Air Canada aircraft that was involved in a notable aviation incident. On 23 July 1983, Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767-200 jet, ran out of fuel at an altitude of ASL, about halfway through its flight from Montreal to Edmonton via Ottawa...
. - On May 13, 2006, the Federal Aviation AdministrationFederal Aviation AdministrationThe Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
refused permission for Biman Bangladesh AirlinesBiman Bangladesh AirlinesBiman Bangladesh Airlines , partly transcribed from English into Bengali and the other way around) is the flag carrier airline of Bangladesh. Its main hub is at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, and also operates flights from Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong, earning revenue...
flight BG011 en route from DhakaDhakaDhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
to New York City to enter US airspace, citing safety concerns over the ailing DC-10McDonnell Douglas DC-10The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
aircraft being used on the route. As a result the flight was diverted to Trudeau Airport where the passengers were provided with alternative airline options to complete their journey. - August 10, 2006: Air Canada Flight 865 from London HeathrowLondon Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
to Montreal was among the seven planes allegedly targeted in a massive bomb plot that was being planned in Britain. The flight, scheduled for departure from London at 3:15 p.m., was canceled that day. All targeted flights, carrying between 240 and 285 people each, were to have been detonated simultaneously as the planes crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The flight flew an Airbus A330-300. - September 23, 2007: Air Canada Flight 155 out of Trudeau Airport was forced to return because of a problem with the landing gearUndercarriageThe undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
hydraulicsHydraulicsHydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids. Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics is used for the generation, control,...
. The flight was heading for CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. About forty minutes into the flight, the pilots discovered the hydraulics problem and returned to the airport. It made a heavy landing and a hard stop, resulting in the gear catching fire. Emergency crews extinguished the flames. All 121 passengers and five crew were evacuated from the aircraft without incident or injury.
- August 26, 2008: Air France Flight 346, a Boeing 747-400Boeing 747-400The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
was making a landing at the airport when it skidded off the runway and got stuck in the grass. The flight originated from Charles de Gaulle International Airport. All of the 490 passengers on board escaped with no injury. - November 30, 2010: An American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, a Boeing 737Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
landed and ran off the runway. The flight was carrying about 100 passengers. None of them were seriously injured. The aircraft did not sustain serious damages. The cause is still unknown.
External links
- Aéroports de Montréal Homepage
- Virtual tour of the airport (video) – Aéroports de Montréal
- Arriving at Montréal-Trudeau airport: from the gate to the exit (video) – Aéroports de Montréal