Montreal Airport Braces for Chaos
Montreal's Trudeau Airport is proactively advising travelers on strategies to avoid delays as March break approaches. The airport authority is urging early arrival, online check-in, and reviewing baggage policies before heading to the airport in response to anticipated spring break crowds and ongoing operational pressures.
The current traffic frustrations stem from a massive, multi-year overhaul of the airport's infrastructure. A major parking garage is being demolished, which has eliminated thousands of parking spots and pushed more vehicles into the main drop-off areas, causing significant congestion. This construction is part of a larger $10-billion "Flight Plan" extending to 2035, designed to increase capacity and modernize the airport. The work includes a complete reconfiguration of the road network leading to the terminal and the construction of new, larger parking facilities and drop-off zones which aim to eventually triple the current capacity. The airport's infrastructure is struggling to keep up with current demand, even before the spring break rush. An airport spokesperson noted the main drop-off area was built for a much lower number of passengers than the 58,000 now expected daily during peak periods. In recent years, traffic backups have at times been so severe that passengers have resorted to walking along the roadside with their luggage to avoid missing flights. Recent operational challenges have added to the pressure. In early February 2026, a winter storm caused dozens of flight cancellations and significant delays at Trudeau airport. This followed a major "connectivity problem" in March 2025, when a failed network upgrade took systems offline and led to hours-long delays at check-in and security for multiple airlines. To manage the current construction-related traffic, the airport has opened two alternative drop-off zones, P4 and P10, which are connected to the terminal by a shuttle service. Officials suggest using these alternative zones can save travelers 20 to 25 minutes compared to waiting in the main traffic line. The long-term plan is intended to accommodate a projected increase to 35 million passengers annually by 2035. A key future development will be the connection of the airport to the city's REM light-rail public transit system, with a station expected to be operational by 2027.
