Travellers heading to Montréal–Trudeau International Airport this summer are being warned to prepare for major delays and severe congestion as massive construction work continues around the airport.
According to officials from Aéroports de Montréal, traffic conditions are expected to remain as difficult as they were last summer, with travel times from the highway interchange to the passenger drop-off area potentially reaching 35 to 40 minutes during peak periods.
The warning comes as the airport undergoes a huge redevelopment project estimated at roughly $10 billion. In recent weeks, the airport’s main multi-level parking structure was completely demolished as part of long-term plans to redesign road access and expand airport infrastructure through the next decade.
For many Montreal residents, especially families in neighbourhoods like Parc-Extension who rely heavily on taxis, ride-shares and public transit to reach the airport, the ongoing construction is creating added stress and uncertainty.
Airport CEO Yves Beauchamp acknowledged that travellers will need “patience, planning and observation” while the work continues. He advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before their flights, especially between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., when most transatlantic departures and arrivals take place.
To reduce congestion, ADM is encouraging travellers to use alternative drop-off zones known as P4 and P10 rather than the main terminal entrance. A new shuttle bus service connecting the future REM Des Sources station to the airport is also expected to launch in June.
The long-awaited REM airport connection itself is not expected to open before 2027, while new passenger drop-off areas are projected for completion in 2028.
The difficult traffic situation has sparked frustration across Montreal. Radio host Benoit Dutrizac recently criticized the airport harshly, calling it “a third-world airport” during a widely discussed media segment.
At the same time, environmental concerns surrounding the airport’s expansion continue to grow. During ADM’s annual public meeting, members of the citizens’ group “Mères au front – Montréal” demanded more transparency regarding the environmental impact of increasing airport traffic.
The group says passenger volume at Trudeau Airport could grow by 50 percent over the next twenty years and is calling for independent studies examining the effects of air pollution and noise on nearby communities.
For neighbourhoods such as Parc-Extension, where many residents already live near heavy traffic corridors and industrial activity, concerns about long-term air quality and urban congestion resonate strongly.
Despite the current chaos, airport officials insist the completed project will dramatically improve access in the future. Plans include expanding access lanes from six to eighteen and increasing public transit usage through the REM network.
For now, however, Montrealers planning summer travel are being urged to leave earlier than ever and expect delays before even reaching the terminal doors.
