Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is the busiest airport in the province of Quebec and a primary international gateway for Eastern Canada. Serving as a major hub for Air Canada, it connects Montréal to destinations across Canada, the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The airport handles a significant volume of passengers annually, making it one of the top four busiest airports in the country.

Originally opened in 1941 as Dorval Airport, it played a crucial role during World War II as a key staging point for the Royal Air Force Ferry Command, transferring newly built aircraft to Great Britain. After decades of service, the facility was officially renamed in 2004 to honor the former Canadian Prime Minister. Today, it consolidates all of Montréal's scheduled passenger traffic into a single, efficient terminal complex.

The airport is located in the city of Dorval, approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of downtown Montréal. Travelers can access it via Autoroute 20 by car, taxi, or ride-sharing services. The most common public transit option is the STM 747 bus service, which operates 24/7, providing a direct link between the airport and the downtown core, including the Berri-UQAM metro station. A future light-rail station for the REM (Réseau express métropolitain) is also under construction to provide a direct train connection.

YUL operates flights to over 150 destinations, with a balanced mix of domestic, transborder (U.S.), and international routes. Major carriers include Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, and Porter Airlines, alongside a host of international airlines. The airport features a single, two-level terminal building divided into three jetties: one for domestic flights, one for international, and a dedicated transborder area for U.S. destinations, which includes a U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility. Amenities for travelers are extensive, with numerous shops, restaurants, currency exchange offices, and duty-free stores. Several airport lounges, including the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and the National Bank Lounge, are available for eligible passengers.

For a smooth experience, travelers are advised to arrive at least three hours before an international or U.S.-bound flight and two hours before a domestic departure. The single-terminal design simplifies connections, which are guided by clear signage. Passengers connecting to a U.S. flight must retrieve their luggage and go through the preclearance facility before proceeding to their gate, so extra time should be allocated for this process.