Passenger numbers and operating costs due to infrastructure work were both up during the third quarter at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Some 6.7 million people passed through the airport in Dorval, Que. during the quarter, which ended on Sept. 30. This represents a 2.5 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, mainly due to the decline in traffic recorded in August 2025 during the Air Canada strike. Both domestic and cross-border traffic recorded growth of 3.7 per cent, while international traffic rose by 1.3 per cent. Yves Beauchamp, Chief Executive Officer of Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), noted that enthusiasm for travel shows no sign of waning. “It is precisely to better meet the needs of users at our airport that ADM is continuing to modernize its infrastructure,” he stated in a press release issued on Wednesday. Operating expenses rose by 12.4 per cent in the third quarter compared with the same period last year, reaching $96.9 million due to “initiatives implemented to mitigate the impact of the 2024–2028 Flight Plan on passengers.” The plan includes, in particular, the addition of new car parks and a connection to the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), Montreal’s light rail system. Capital expenditure on the airport revitalization and the REM station totalled $304.5 million in the third quarter, an increase of 53.9 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. Revenue was $274.4 million from July to September, up three per cent from $266.4 million last year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) stood at $135.0 million, down 3.1 per cent from $139.4 million. As of Sept. 30, ADM’s net debt stood at $2.9 billion, representing the difference between the gross outstanding balance of long-term debt and the amount available in cash. It stood at $2.4 billion at the same time last year. ADM is the airport authority responsible for the management, operation and development of the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and the Mirabel International Airport (YMX). This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 4, 2026.
