Flying Porter’s Inaugural Flight from Montreal MET Airport (YHU)

There are inaugural flights, and then there are inaugural flights. At 6 a.m. on a Monday morning, I found myself in a taxi crossing Montreal’s bridges to get to an airport that many Canadians don’t yet know exists. By 8:40 a.m., I would be aboard the very first commercial flight to depart from Montreal’s newest airport, MET, the new commercial terminal at Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU). Although, disappointingly, there was no St-Hubert chicken available either on the ground or in the air.

Getting to MET Terminal (YHU)

The first trick to enjoying a flight out of YHU is finding it. It is about 45 minutes from downtown Montreal and over an hour from YUL (the imposing-sounding Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport).  My driver triple-checked with me that we were in fact going to this “other , small”  airport, and not the big one around the corner.  His opinion was that YHU consisted of little more than a collection of small aviation buildings scattered around an airfield in the middle of nowhere.  And indeed, when we turned off the highway and started approaching the new airport, I started to wonder if I had been wrong.  But all’s well that ends well, and a shiny new, large building materialized at the end of the road.

Montreal MET Airport – Rendition (credit: Porter Airlines)

As luck would have it, I had a chance to see if Porter wanted a real-world test of whether Montrealers and visitors understand the difference between YUL and YHU; they got one right off the bat. The passenger in front of me at boarding had arrived at YUL at 5 a.m. expecting to fly home to Vancouver.  When she checked in with the Porter staff there, to her horror, she discovered that her flight was actually departing from an entirely different airport, previously unheard of (by her), nearly an hour away.  One hundred dollars in taxi fare and one very stressful hour later, she was finally standing at the correct check-in agent.

Who says arriving 3 hours early for a flight is overkill 

Montreal Metropolitan Airport YHU – Small Terminal With Big Ambitions

As most aviation enthusiasts know, airports all have their own personality. Some feel corporate. Some feel chaotic. Some feel like they haven’t been renovated since the invention of the fax machine. MET?

It still has that unmistakable “new terminal” smell.  The paint is fresh, the floors are spotless, and nobody has yet figured out which corner to scuff first. It’s relatively small, still very clean, and refreshingly easy to navigate. Nobody is going to accidentally end up walking several kilometres in the wrong direction before realizing they’re at the wrong gate. I anticipate fewer “jet-bridge Jesus” moments.

Porter is clearly the star of the show at MET.  Pascan, which operates regional services throughout Eastern Canada, also flies from the facility. The scale feels intentionally modest and a far cry from the sprawling maze of Canada’s largest airports (looking at you, Pearson). For many travellers, that’s likely to be part of the appeal.

Despite the terminal’s shiny newness, the security equipment is decidedly old-school. That meant laptops out. Electronics out. The whole familiar dance that many Canadian travellers have been enjoying less and less at airports equipped with newer CT scanners.

Even more surprising was the lack of expedited screening. Porter offers a Reserve lane, and there was a dedicated queue, but there was no corresponding expedited security process once passengers reached screening. Passenger volumes were extremely light, yet security still took approximately 15–20 minutes to clear. Part of the issue was that only one screening line was operating.  And in what has become a personal travel tradition, I was also the only person in a group of well over thirty passengers to be “randomly” selected for additional screening. Some people collect passport stamps. I apparently collect random security checks. If CATSA ever starts a loyalty program for secondary screening, I’d be well positioned to reach top-tier elite status quickly.

Montreal MET Terminal

Additional Seating at Montreal MET Airport YHU

Frequent travellers expecting lounges, multiple restaurants and endless shopping opportunities should adjust their expectations. MET currently embraces the “small but functional” philosophy. There is a café at the furthest end of the terminal after security that sells coffee and other hot drinks, miscellaneous sandwiches and salads, as well as a large variety of baked goods. As well, there was a mini convenience and gift shop that sold cold drinks, cold pre-wrapped food (sandwiches, salads, yogurt, hummus), maple leaf and other Canadian memorabilia, as well as chips and candy.   There are rumours of plans for a full-service restaurant to be added soon to YHU.  And no, it’s not St. Hubert.

Mini Store/Gift Shop

Montreal MET Airport YHU – Terminal Cafe

Also, no lounge of any stripe in sight. Trust me, I looked. Three times. Really hard.  Not even a Priority Pass or Amex lounge advertisement clinging hopefully to a door somewhere.

Porter Inaugural Flight Celebrations

Outside security, the atmosphere felt more like a media event than a typical Monday morning departure. CBC cameras were present, chairs had been arranged for speeches, and MET executives were preparing to officially mark the occasion. Inside the secure area, Porter had created a much more festive atmosphere for passengers. White and blue balloons framed the welcome area. Staff seemed genuinely excited to be part of the milestone.  I talked to a few of the more junior staff, who all spoke very positively about their working conditions.  They also mentioned the longevity of the staff at the organization at all levels, 10+ years, as proof of the positive work culture and conditions.

Porter Inaugural Celebrations at MET

Readers may already know that I coordinate my nail art with upcoming travel.  Since this was a Porter inaugural, the obvious choice was the Porter raccoon. What I did not anticipate was becoming a minor celebrity among Porter employees. Ground staff noticed. Flight attendants noticed. Random passengers wanted to see. Virtually everyone who saw it reacted with some combination of surprise, delight, and disbelief. The tiny raccoon-on-finger may have its own little fan club amongst the Porter staff now.

Nail Art and Porter Cookie

Another pleasant surprise was seeing Porter’s president, Kevin Jackson, spending time throughout the terminal. In an era where airline executives are often surrounded by communications staff and carefully managed appearances, it was refreshing to see him simply wandering around talking to people. Rather than remaining hidden behind VIP ropes or executive entourages, he was chatting casually with employees and passengers alike.  Porter had provided free coffee and shortbread cookies wrapped in commemorative packaging featuring the airline’s raccoon mascot.  He took my light-hearted suggestion that “Porter could learn from their partner, Alaska Air – at that airline’s recent inaugural flight from Seattle to Rome, both cookies AND cake were served-” very much in stride and in the spirit it was offered.  Those interactions may seem small, but they contribute significantly to the culture Porter appears to have built over the years.

With Kevin Jackson (President, Porter Airlines)

Inaugural flights have a different energy from normal departures. People take photos of things they would normally ignore.  Senior airline executives and managers are often there to rally and cheer their troops. Before our departure, the Manager of Porter’s flight attendants came on board on our aircraft briefly and complimented our two Attendants on their appearance, commenting that they look “Polished and professional” and expressed his appreciation for their efforts despite the relatively early morning departure.  The smiles on the FAs’ faces were priceless.   The FA’s also mentioned that Porter had arranged for a limo pick-up from their overnight Sheraton hotel, albeit a “small” limo.

The excitement surrounding the launch felt genuine from top to bottom, and it contributed to the feeling that all passengers and staff appeared to feel today, knowing they were participating in something that will happen only once.

Boarding and Departure – YHU to YVR

As boarding for Vancouver from Gate 4 wrapped up, there was a palpable sense that everyone understood they were participating in a moment that would be remembered. I settled into seat 1D aboard Porter’s Embraer E-195 E2. For those who appreciate aviation seat strategy, 1D is one of the better seats in the cabin in my opinion. The bulkhead configuration provides noticeably more space than many other rows, making it an excellent choice for a long domestic flight.

Porter Inaugural MET Flight

The crew greeted passengers warmly, boarding proceeded smoothly, and right on schedule, we pushed back for departure.  Then came one of aviation’s most beloved traditions. The water salute. As the aircraft taxied out, airport fire vehicles created an arch of water over the aircraft, officially christening the route and celebrating the launch of commercial service from the new terminal. Adding to the moment, the orange-shirted ground crew had gathered to watch.

The wonderful MET ground crew

There is something special about seeing the people who make aviation happen every day pause to witness a milestone like this one.  One lucky orange-shirt got to wave us out of the gate, and many of the ground observers waved goodbye as our plane taxied past them on the runway.

One thing I wasn’t expecting was how picturesque the departure would be. The airport almost feels rural compared to many major Canadian gateways.  Wildflowers lined portions of the runway environment, creating a scene that felt more countryside than commercial airport. As we accelerated down the runway and lifted into the morning sky, the contrast was striking: a brand-new terminal launching a new era of service, surrounded by landscapes that still felt distinctly natural.

Breakfast Worth Writing About and Service Onboard

Once airborne and with the seatbelt sign switched off, the crew began breakfast service. My choice was the turkey croissant sandwich. And honestly, it was surprisingly good, even served cold.  Ovens are not a thing on E195-E2s, which makes the quality of the sandwich even more impressive.

Porter Reserve Menu

Onboard menu to purchase

There were two flight attendants on board. The flight was not full, and seat 1C next to me as well as 1B across from me were not filled, so I ended up with a sort of “poor man’s J”.  My accountant would probably describe it as “business class adjacent.” While service was not super polished, with cloth napkins and silverware not making an appearance, it was warm, friendly and felt very genuine.  Our primary Flight attendant was also excited to be on the inaugural flight and was attentive throughout the flight. A narrow-body E-195 does not have ovens on board to heat up meals and nuts, but Porter was generous with their snacks, offering complimentary snacks twice in formal service throughout the 5-hour flight, and for reserve passengers, service upon request.

Wifi was better and more reliable than on my return journey from Vancouver to Toronto, on one of Air Canada’s 777. One thing I appreciate is that Porter does not try to brand its Reserve service as “premium.”  It is simply “all-inclusive” economy.  I think that is honest, sets the right expectations and delivers what its marketing promises.

What Could Be Better? Toilets.  There are only two of them onboard this narrow-body model.  This might be fine for a one-hour jaunt to New York or Chicago, but on a five-hour marathon to Vancouver from Montreal, this is not ideal to say the least.  Sitting in 1D, I had ample opportunity to observe the frequency of use.  The toilet in front was pretty much in continuous use for the majority of the flight. And I have no doubt that the facility at the back was equally as popular.  If you do fly Porter long-haul, I recommend going just before you board!

Takeaway

Airports often launch with grandiose verbiage about transforming travel. MET’s appeal may be something much simpler: it’s small. It’s easy. It’s clean. And on its first morning of commercial service, it felt genuinely excited to welcome passengers. That’s not a bad foundation on which to build an airport, assuming passengers know it exists and can find it.

As for me, I got to fly the inaugural, eat a better-than-expected breakfast, show off a raccoon-themed manicure, and get randomly selected for secondary screening. All in all, not a bad way to start the work week.

Over the next week, Porter is introducing flights from MET to 11 airports across the country, just in time for the summer travel season.

*Note: MET’s official airport designation code is YHU

**Seasonal route