Porter Aviation Holdings is partnering with Macquarie Asset Management for the development of the passenger terminal at Montreal Saint – Hubert Airport (YHU), creating a new joint company, Infrastructure Partners YHU (Québec). A local management team will operate the facility upon completion.
Construction PCL (PCL) has also been selected as the general contractor for the passenger terminal. Work will begin in August this year and is scheduled for completion in mid-2025.
MAM is the world’s largest infrastructure manager according to IPE Real Assets 2022. The investment in YHU adds to its global airport and airport infrastructure expertise, which includes current investors in the operators of Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Ecuador; El Dorado International Airport in Colombia; Aberdeen, Glasgow, Farnborough and Southampton airports in the United Kingdom; and North Queensland and Perth airports in Australia.
The passenger terminal will have 21,000 square meters, nine boarding gates and a modern design. All travelers will have lounge seating and access to snack and beverage stations, as well as retail outlets. All systems in the facility will be electrically powered.
PCL has completed more than $18.9 billion worth of airport infrastructure and facilities in North America, including new construction, expansions and upgrades at more than 55 international airports.
The YHU terminal development was modeled after the successful revitalization of the City of Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, in which Porter has been involved for the past 17 years.
It is estimated that the YHU terminal will facilitate faster passenger processing than major international airports, saving travel time and providing a convenient departure lounge. PAHI designed and built the state-of-the-art Billy Bishop Terminal that is currently in use.
Porter will be one of the main carriers at the new YHU terminal and will operate routes throughout Canada with a combination of 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 and 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.
The terminal will also be open to other airline operators and several airlines are expected to operate at the airport. Porter also plans to continue to strengthen its presence at Montreal – Trudeau Airport (YUL), providing a wide range of options for travelers in the greater Montreal area.
See also: New Transcontinental Services by Porter Airlines: Ottawa to Vancouver and Edmonton