If you've ever felt like flying out of Montreal Airport was more of a hassle than it should be, turns out you're not imagining things. A new survey of North American airports just dropped, and let's just say YUL did not come out looking good.
The 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study from J.D. Power asked more than 30,000 travellers to rate their airport experiences, from check-in and security to food options and overall vibes. Airports were divided into three categories — mega, large, and medium — based on annual passenger traffic.
So where did Montreal-Trudeau land? Almost at the very bottom. With a score of 571 out of 1,000, YUL ranked second-to-last in the "large" airports category, beating only Philadelphia International by a single point.
An overall customer satisfaction scale for large North American airports.J.D. Power
To make matters worse, other Canadian hubs fared better. Vancouver cracked the top 10 with a score of 755, while Calgary landed in 23rd. Toronto Pearson, in the "mega" category, managed a middle-of-the-pack result.
But things are not all bad. Back in April, YUL was recognized at the 2025 World Airport Awards as the cleanest airport in North America. It also picked up the award for best airport staff service on the continent, ahead of major hubs like Toronto Pearson and Los Angeles International.
For Montrealers, the low ranking probably won't come as a huge shock. YUL has long faced criticism over long waits, construction headaches, and overcrowded terminals. The airport is in the middle of a $7-billion modernization project set to last until 2035, but travellers clearly aren't feeling the benefits yet.
J.D. Power did note that overall airport satisfaction across North America is trending up, thanks to better food offerings and more local touches in terminals. Unfortunately for Montreal, that trend hasn't reached Dorval.
So next time you're stuck in line at Trudeau, remember: according to at least one study, you're sharing that frustration with just about everyone else.
Love this? Check out our MTL Blog noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!
AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
