Porter partners with Macquarie Asset Management to develop its “state-of-the-art" Montreal terminal

Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. (PAHI) has announced it’s entering a partnership with Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) to support development of the previously-announced passenger terminal at Montréal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU). 

A new company, Partenaires d’infrastructure YHU (Québec) s.e.c. / YHU Infrastructure Partners (Québec) LP, is being formed under joint Porter and MAM ownership to develop the terminal. 

A local management team will operate the facility upon completion.

Construction PCL has also been selected as the general contractor for the passenger terminal. 

Work will begin in August, with a scheduled completion by mid-2025.

“Macquarie and PCL are well-positioned as partners to develop a state-of-the-art passenger terminal at Saint-Hubert,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO, PAHI. 

“These relationships further strengthen the project and will result in a distinct terminal where passengers will genuinely enjoy their experience.”

A high-quality infrastructure

The world’s largest infrastructure manager, MAM’s  global airport and airport-related infrastructure experience includes current investments 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.

“We are excited to expand our investment footprint in the Americas through partnering with Porter to deliver high-quality infrastructure to the Montréal region,” said Karl Kuchel, CEO of Macquarie Infrastructure Partners. 

“We look forward to working with key airport stakeholders including the local community to make this important project a success.”

The passenger terminal is planned to be 21,000 square meters (225,000 square feet) and will feature nine bridged aircraft gates, along with a modern design.

Inside, passengers will find comfortable lounge-style seating, along with access to food and beverage concessions and various retail vendors.

Notably, all the building systems are expected to be powered entirely by electricity, showcasing the facility's commitment to sustainability.

Faster passenger processing and travel time savings

PCL, the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America, has an annual construction volume exceeding $8 billion. 

Their experience in the aviation sector includes executing projects worth over $18.9 billion at more than 55 international airports throughout North America, including new builds, expansions, and upgrades at more than 55 international airports.

“We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking project with Porter and Macquarie Asset Management, leveraging our local expertise and client-centered commitment to excellence,” said Sébastien Tremblay, vice president and district manager for Construction PCL in Québec. 

“We firmly believe that this collaboration will pave the way for substantial growth and development within Québec's aviation sector.”

The YHU terminal development takes inspiration from the successful revitalization of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, a project in which Porter has been involved for the past 17 years.

The YHU terminal aims to offer quicker passenger processing compared to larger international airports, resulting in time-saving benefits to go along with a comfortable departure lounge environment. 

PAHI originally designed and built the modern Billy Bishop terminal that is in use today.

“The YHU transformation will increase the airport capacity of the Greater Montréal Area and consolidate regional air service in Québec. With this major infrastructure, travelers can expect a better experience, while the region receives significant economic return. We thank Porter for their profound contribution to the airport developments, as well as the regional stakeholders for their crucial collaboration on this infrastructure project,” said Yanic Roy, CEO of Montréal Saint-Hubert Airport YHU.

Porter will be an anchor tenant at the new YHU terminal with routes operated throughout Canada using 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 airlines, with a number of carriers expected to serve the airport. 

Porter also intends to continue building its presence at Montréal Trudeau Airport (YUL), providing a range of choice for Greater Montréal travellers.

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