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St. Hubert partnering with Canada Jetlines

Montreal Saint Hubert Airport (YHU) is partnering with Canada Jetlines Ltd. to introduce new Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) services for the Montreal area. Based on Canada Jetlines’ aircraft roll-out strategy and the airport's recent plan to build a passenger terminal building, the two parties say the service could begin by 2020. Saint Hubert Airport also recently refurbished its main runway.


November 13, 2018  By Wings Staff

“Given the renewed interest by scheduled carriers to operate at the airport, we will accelerate our efforts to secure a designated airport status which will enable us to provide security screening services from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority at an affordable rate,” said Jane Foyle, GM of DASH-L, the non-profit organization that manages the airport.

Foyle continues to explain the airport’s intention is to obtain customs and immigration services from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in order to offer trans-border flights. “[This] will allow us to recapture the exodus of Quebec passengers who travel to U.S. airports for their flights,” said Foyle. “These two conditions, which depend solely on federal government decisions, are necessary for us to be able to partner with air carriers of Jetlines’ caliber.” Airport officals plan to reach out to Minister Marc Garneau and relevant elected officials to accelerate these decisions.

“Montreal travellers deserve a low-cost domestic option and those looking for low-cost air travel options destined south should not have to drive across the border to Plattsburgh,” said Javier Suarez, CEO of Jetlines. “The airport has our full support and we look forward to working together to design and build what will be become Jetlines base in Montreal.”

Suarez notes the airport’s location in Longueuil is a short commute out of the downtown core of Montreal, which is helping to spur the build of a new purpose-built low-cost facility. Saint-Hubert Airport explains it has an existing, robust airside infrastructure, a control tower and a wide offering of aviation services. DASH-L has operated and managed the airport since September 2004.

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Canada Jetlines plans to operate flights across Canada and provide non-stop service from Canada to the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. The company plans to initially operate an Airbus A320 fleet, which it describes as the most widely used aircraft for ultra-low-cost carriers worldwide. Canada Jetlines was granted an exemption from the Government of Canada that will permit it to conduct domestic air services while having up to 49 per cent foreign voting interests.

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