In order to make access to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport smoother, Aéroports de Montréal wants to make investments of nearly $4 billion by 2028.
Its president and CEO, Yves Beauchamp, speaks of a “race” to be ready to welcome more passengers, during a speech Thursday before the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.
“We have 4 years to be able to accommodate 4 million more people than today,” he declares.
The investment plans include the addition of parking lots, the construction of a new landing stage, the development of road access, the connection with the REM and the addition of a pier which will allow new satellite boarding gates.
Ridership is up sharply with the strong recovery in air transport after the pandemic shock. Montreal airport welcomed 21 million passengers in 2023. This is 32.3% more than in 2022 and even 4.1% than in 2019 (before the pandemic). Ridership is 8.4% higher than in 2019.
In his speech, Mr. Beauchamp ensures that Aéroports de Montréal has sufficient capital to make its investments by 2028. “The wheel has started to turn again and we will have the necessary resources for our 2028 flight plan.”
However, he said he was in favor of opening up to private capital for subsequent investments. The Chamber also asked the federal government to allow this method of financing, as part of the pre-budget consultations.
He mentioned that significant “larger-scale” investments are planned by 2035. “For this next step, new financial tools will be necessary,” he commented.