Montreal airport open to private sector involvement in specific projects

Passenger traffic and spending are up at the Montreal Trudeau Airport as a major expansion project is underway, with questions about environmental costs.

The head of the Montreal airport authority says he is open to the federal government’s plans to assess the role of the private sector in Canadian airports.

Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) has already held initial discussions with the federal government, said CEO Yves Beauchamp on Thursday during a press conference on the sidelines of its annual general meeting.

This initiative could be implemented for specific projects, such as the reconstruction of a parking lot, he gave as an example.

The non-profit organization that manages Montreal-Trudeau Airport does not need the private sector to finance its $10-billion expansion projects over the coming years, Beauchamp said.

Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned on Wednesday during an announcement in Mirabel that his government would analyze its options. .

The idea of privatizing airports is not new and resurfaced in the federal government’s recent economic update.

However, the expansion plans for Montréal-Trudeau Airport are causing concern among Mères au front. Activists from the movement put questions to management during the meeting.

Member Nathalie Ainsley is concerned about the impact of increased air traffic on public health and the environment, she said during a news scrum on the sidelines of the event.

Beauchamp replied that ADM is following regulations and carrying out the necessary environmental tests.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 7, 2026.