Inside the New Air Canada Café Montreal

Air Canada has opened the doors to its latest lounge concept with the debut of the Air Canada Café at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). 

The Prince of Travel team was live on location to get a first look at the lounge – which becomes the second Air Canada lounge offering in the domestic terminal and the fourth in the airport – prior to its slated opening on March 22, 2025.

Here’s a detailed look at what Air Canada passengers departing from Montreal can expect on their next visit.

All photos in this article are credited to Sebastian Furtado (Prince of Travel).

The New Air Canada Café Montreal

Air Canada has opened the doors to its newest lounge, the Air Canada Café at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), which becomes the airline’s 30th lounge worldwide. 

The opening comes as part of a large-scale project that will see an ongoing refurbishment of existing Air Canada lounges, as well as the launch of new ones, in the coming months and years.

The Air Canada Café in Montreal comes as the third such lounge in the Air Canada network, following the Air Canada Café in Toronto Pearson (YYZ), which opened in 2019, and the Aspire | Air Canada Café at Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport (YTZ), which opened in 2023. 

It’s expected that another Air Canada Café will debut in Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at some point later this year.

The Montreal lounge follows the concept of other Air Canada Café locations, offering guests grab-and-go food options, a selection of hot items, elevated coffee & drinks, and a more casual atmosphere than you might find in Maple Leaf Lounges.

Air Canada Café Montreal – Access & Entry

The Air Canada Café Montreal is located close to the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The entrance can be found close to Gate 3 on the main level of the terminal.

You’ll find eGates at the entrance of the lounge, as well as staff on hand to assist with any questions. Simply scan your boarding pass, or opt in for facial recognition for a hands-free experience.

Access to the Air Canada Café Montreal is governed by the same lounge access policy as other Air Canada lounges, meaning that you can access the lounge with any of the following:

• A business class or Premium Rouge domestic ticket with Air Canada
• Star Alliance Gold status when departing on a domestic Air Canada flight
• A premium Aeroplan co-branded credit card
• A one-time Air Canada lounge guest pass

The lounge is open from 5am to 8pm daily. If you’re departing from Montreal, you can enter the lounge three hours prior to departure, and if you have a connection in Montreal, there’s no time limit.

Air Canada Café Montreal – Seating

The lounge fills a rectangular area underneath the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge, with design elements that pay tribute to local artists and Montreal’s unique identity. 

After walking past the Bonjour/Hello penny tiles in the lounge’s foyer, you’ll notice ceilings that represent an aircraft fuselage, and windows that were inspired by the mid-century modern Montreal metro system.

The lighting showcases fixtures from Lambert & Fils, and you’ll also find artwork done by Melanie Authier (a Montreal-based artist). 

Once inside, you’ll find that the Air Canada Café Montreal has seating available for up to 58 passengers.

Opposite from the coffee machines on the interior wall, you’ll find four pairs of comfortable armchairs situated beside round coffee tables.

On the other side of these, you can choose from banquette-style seats with a small table, or high-top seating at the far end.

In the middle of the lounge is a large co-working-style table, with high-top seating for up to 20 passengers.

Against the wall that faces the tarmac, you can choose from banquette seats with small drink tables, or another row of high-top chairs that face the apron.

Lastly, there’s a round table close to the entrance of the lounge to provide accessible seating, which has artwork from Melanie Authier close by to add a pop of colour to the lounge.

Nearly every seat in the lounge has a power outlet, which has multiple plugs and a USB-C port.

This lounge does not feature restrooms or shower facilities.

Air Canada Café Montreal – Food & Drink

The Air Canada Café Montreal features a similar food and drink offering to what you’ll find in other Air Canada Café locations.

Along the interior walls of the lounge, you can choose from a wide selection of grab-and-go meals, which can either be enjoyed in the lounge or taken onto your flight (take-out bags and utensils are provided). 

Some of the options available during the inauguration included Quebec maple potato doughnuts, chocolatines, cookies, cheese boards, banh mi sandwiches, and much more. There are options to cater to different diets, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options.

The Air Canada Café Montreal also features a handful of hot items that highlight Montreal’s culinary staples, including smoked meat sandwiches, Fairmount bagels, and pistachio croissants.

In terms of hot beverages, the Air Canada Café Montreal offers a selection of automated coffee machines, including options for filter coffee and espresso-based beverages. The lounge also features two cold-brew dispensers and a still/sparkling water dispenser.

There’s also a selection of soft drinks available from a fountain dispenser, as well as grab-and-go options in cans and bottles.

The Air Canada Café Montreal also features four self-pour taps that feature two local craft beers (Belle Gueule Blonde & St-Ambroise NEIPA), a Quebec cider (McAdam), and a non-alcoholic kombucha (Gutsy). 

Conclusion

Eligible Air Canada passengers departing on a domestic flight from Montreal now have access to a new lounge with the opening of the Air Canada Café Montreal. 

The latest addition to Air Canada’s lounge network provides a more casual space for passengers to grab a quick snack or to sip on a beverage and get some work done before heading to the gate. 

In the coming months, the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge will close for renovations, and it’s likely that this lounge will often be busy.

When one of our team members passses through Montreal in the coming months, we’ll be sure to provide a detailed review of the experience.