The 1930s airship base that became a modern aviation hub

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it was a bustling domestic terminal, this site was chosen as a strategic anchor for the Imperial Airship Scheme. From hosting historic transatlantic flights to serving as Montreal's first airport, its history is woven into the very fabric of Canadian aviation.

The origins of Montreal Metropolitan Airport (MET) are tied to the 1926 Imperial Conference, where Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King pledged Canada's support to Great Britain for an airship scheme. British experts selected a site on the south shore of Montreal in August 1927. Work began almost immediately, and by November 1927, Saint-Hubert had received its first airmail delivery. This infrastructure later hosted the R100 airship in 1930, which completed what was likely the first non-stop passenger-carrying powered transatlantic flight to land in Canada.

Before Dorval Airport (now Montréal–Trudeau International) launched in 1941, this site functioned as Montreal's sole aviation centre. It holds a unique place in history as home to Canada's first air traffic control tower, which opened on April 13, 1939. During the late 1930s, it also served as a manufacturing site for Canadian Associated Aircraft to build the Handley Page Hampden. The facility was eventually divided into military and civilian sides; while the former RCAF Station St Hubert has ceased its primary operations, the Canadian Armed Forces still maintain a garrison there.

In recent years, the airport underwent significant transformation. Following a 1994 policy change, ownership transferred to a private corporation in 2004. After a runway upgrade in 2018 to accommodate larger aircraft, it was rebranded as Montreal Metropolitan Airport in 2024. A new commercial terminal opened in June 2026, specifically designed for Porter Airlines' domestic network. By focusing on domestic travel, the airport offers a unique logistical advantage: passengers can arrive as late as 30 minutes before departure by bypassing international customs and immigration requirements.

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