Porter Partners With Macquarie Asset Management on Development of Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport Passenger Terminal

Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. (PAHI) is 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 (PCL) has also been selected as the general contractor for the passenger terminal. Work will commence 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.”

MAM is the world’s largest infrastructure manager.(1) The investment in YHU adds to its global airport and airport-related infrastructure experience, which 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 designed to be 21,000 sq.m. (225,000 sq.ft.) with nine bridged aircraft gates, and an overall modern design aesthetic. There will be lounge-style seating for all passengers and access to food and beverage concessions, as well as retail vendors. All building systems are expected to operate fully on electric power. 

PCL is the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America, with an annual construction volume of more than $8 billion. PCL brings unparalleled depth of expertise in the aviation sector, having executed over $18.9 billion worth of airport facility and infrastructure work across 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,” remarked 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 is modelled after the successful revitalization of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport that Porter has been a part of for the last 17 years. The YHU terminal is expected to provide faster passenger processing than large international airports, resulting in travel time savings 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,” stated 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, and it is expected that a number of carriers will 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.