Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) announced July 11, at the Farnborough International Airshow that industrial real-estate development is continuing apace at its Mirabel airport, which now operates as an industrial and all-cargo facility.
The 400,000-square-metre site of the former passenger terminal complex, on which demolition work is nearing completion, continues to garner interest from companies seeking quality land for development, with or without runway access. An initial industrial project is already slated for the site, which will be entirely rehabilitated by this summer: construction is well under way on a plant to be operated by Pama Manufacturing, which specializes in production of customized sterile and non-sterile medical supplies. A second project is expected to be announced in the near future once details are ironed out.
In addition, the company Mirajet is currently building an airpark at the foot of the control tower. Some 20 hangars will be available for sale or lease to civil and business aviation clients.
“We are very optimistic indeed about the future of Montréal–Mirabel,” said James C. Cherry, president and CEO, ADM. “That’s why Aéroports de Montréal is investing some $50 million this year to completely refurbish the main runway, which has reached the end of its useful life. The work will be completed by the end of 2016, so our clients will soon have the benefit of a brand new runway.”
Montréal–Mirabel airport plays a vital role in the aerospace industry in Québec and the rest of Canada. It is home to a growing cluster of world-class aerospace companies, including Bombardier Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Stelia Aerospace (formerly Aerolia), L3 Communication Mas, Avianor and Nolinor, complemented by a plethora of specialized services. According to a recent study, some 86 percent of the 3,700 direct jobs at the airport are linked to the aerospace sector.
“Among other things, Montréal–Mirabel is the final assembly site for the Bombardier CSeries, Cherry noted. “We are extremely proud to be associated with this next-generation aircraft, acclaimed as the top-performing plane in its category. In the past few months, the CSeries has received significant support, which strengthens our belief that this program will be a huge success, bringing benefits for the entire Canadian and Québec aerospace industry.”
