Brilliant: Air Canada Cafe Opens At Montreal Airport (YUL)

Air Canada is expanding its innovative Air Canada Cafe concept to a third airport…

Basics of the new Air Canada Cafe Montreal Airport

On Saturday, March 22, 2025, we’re seeing the opening of an Air Canada Cafe at Montreal Trudeau Airport (YUL). The space will be located in the domestic departures area, near gate A2 (point of clarification: actual domestic, not 51st state domestic).

The 2,700 square foot (250 square meter) lounge has 58 seats, designed with productivity style-seating, each with USB-C power outlets. The lounge was designed in partnership with Montreal-based design firm Provencher Roy, influenced by the city’s “third wave” coffee culture.

While guests are allowed to hang out there, the primary intent of this space is that it offers a seamless, convenient grab and go experience, for those who don’t have time for a traditional lounge visit. The Air Canada Cafe features a selection of local snacks and self-serve beverages.

Grab and go food selections include warm pistachio cream croissants, mini cheese boards, vegetarian wraps, fresh salads, Montreal-inspired bagel and smoked meat sandwiches, and more. There’s also a beverage station with Montreal-brewed beer and cider, and non-alcoholic options, including locally brewed Gutsy Kombucha, Lavazza specialty coffee, and nitro cold brew.

As far as access goes, the Air Canada Cafe is available to customers traveling on a business class ticket, Star Alliance Gold members, Aeroplan premium co-brand cardholders, and Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members.

This is such an innovative lounge concept

Air Canada deserves huge credit for innovation with the Air Canada Cafe concept. The airline debuted this in 2019 at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), and then opened a second facility in 2023 at Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ).

We’ve seen United follow Air Canada’s lead this with the United Club Fly concept, which are similarly grab and go facilities, now open in Denver (DEN) and Houston (IAH). The United Club Fly locations have the benefit of having barista coffee, but they don’t have alcohol, and also don’t offer as much seating.

It’s rare that we actually see airlines materially innovate the lounge experience, and this is an area where Air Canada deserves a ton of credit. Lots of times you might want to grab a quick drink or snack, but don’t want a traditional lounge, and this is the perfect kind of facility in such a situation. For that matter, this also helps with crowding in other lounges.

Not only does Air Canada have the excellent Air Canada Cafe concept, but on the other end of the spectrum, there’s the Air Canada Signature Suite concept, which is the carrier’s most premium business class lounge, with a restaurant style dining experience. Air Canada often flies under the radar for the ways in which it innovates, so the airline deserves a bit of love there, if you ask me.

Bottom line

An Air Canada Cafe is opening at Montreal Airport, in the domestic departures area. The facility has 58 seats, and also offers a variety of grab and go drinks and snacks. This is the third such facility from the airline, so I’m delighted to see the concept expand.

What do you make of the Air Canada Cafe Montreal Airport?