From 1er Next April, night flights will be a thing of the past at Montreal Metropolitan Airport, formerly known as Saint-Hubert Airport.
Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez responded favorably to an official request from the airport administration, supported by the City of Longueuil.
The ban will specifically affect planes operated by the company Chrono Aviation, which provides connections to the Canadian Far North on behalf of mining companies. The curfew will apply from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“This type of activity has become marginal for a type of airport like ours, which is in the midst of a transformation and is moving towards daytime commercial flights,” explained Simon-Pierre Diamond, vice-president, corporate affairs, in an interview. , communications and marketing of the Montreal Metropolitan Airport.
The City of Longueuil and the Montreal Metropolitan Airport signed a social acceptability agreement last year which frames “the social acceptability parameters that should guide the development of the airport”, particularly in the construction of a new terminal for the carrier Porter by 2025.
The agreement notably provided for the end of night flights in 2024.
The end of nighttime activities will not cause losses for the airport and “was part of the considerations expressed by elected officials and citizens,” added Mr. Diamond.
In 2023, Chrono filed a $146 million lawsuit against the managers of Montreal Metropolitan Airport, accusing it of endangering its business model and its financial survival by banning night flights.
The company did not respond to interview requests from Duty.
“Our decision is respectful of the contractual agreements with Chrono,” argued Simon-Pierre Diamond.
Chrono operated 2 departures and 3 landings at night per week aboard Boeing 737-200 aircraft, known to be particularly noisy.
Night flights will still be permitted for smaller aircraft.
“Airmedic and Royal Canadian Mounted Police planes, for example, will be able to continue to operate. These are considered essential services. They make almost no noise and have never been the subject of complaints,” said Mr. Diamond.
Victory for the citizens
“We can say that it is a victory for the City and the airport, but above all it is for all the citizens of the South Shore,” commented the mayor of Longueuil Catherine Fournier in a press release. .
This practice has been the subject of complaints from citizens of the Saint-Hubert borough and the entire city of Longueuil for several years.
The Longueuil Public Participation Office also recommended the end of nighttime activities at the airport in a report dating from November 2022.