Montréal now has an even more interesting second airport for private aviation
For a private jet to Montréal, our first comparison is MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport (YHU / CYHU) in Longueuil, formerly Saint-Hubert. The airport is about 15 kilometres from Downtown Montréal and has a main runway of roughly 7,801 ft. It has long had a strong general- and business-aviation role and, in June 2026, opened a new commercial passenger terminal. For private travellers, the key advantages remain its location and established business-aviation infrastructure.
The important detail for a nonstop international charter is customs. The Canada Border Services Agency lists Montréal St-Hubert/Longueuil as an Airport of Entry AOE/15. In practice, this allows general-aviation arrivals with up to 15 people within the published CBSA service. That works very well for a typical private-jet party, while a larger group or an arrival outside the available customs hours can make Montréal-Trudeau (YUL / CYUL) the more practical choice.
CBSA currently publishes service at YHU between 08:30 and 22:00 local time. An afternoon or early-evening arrival from Europe can therefore fit very well, while a late-night landing needs more careful planning. We confirm customs before quoting. YUL remains the reliable fallback with full international-hub infrastructure and longer runways, whereas YHU can offer a much more direct connection to Downtown and the South Shore for smaller private groups.
Amsterdam to Montréal sits neatly between Super Midsize and Heavy
At roughly 2,960 nautical miles, Montréal is one of the North American cities where a modern Super Midsize Jet can be particularly attractive. For four to six passengers, the category can combine nonstop range, a comfortable stand-up cabin and a lower cost base than many Heavy Jets. On a winter westbound day with strong headwinds, or with higher payload, a Heavy Jet can provide valuable additional margin.
YHU’s 7,801-ft runway is substantial and suitable for a wide range of corporate aircraft, but with a larger Heavy Jet we always check the exact take-off performance for the return sector. Landing after the transatlantic outbound flight is often less demanding because much of the fuel has already been burned. Temperature, runway condition, wind and aircraft type therefore determine whether YHU or YUL provides the better overall solution.
The eastbound return to Amsterdam is normally shorter. For a one- or two-night stay, keeping the same aircraft can be attractive; on a longer visit, a locally positioned aircraft for the return may lower the overall charter cost. Montréal has a significant aviation industry and active business-aviation market, so an open comparison is worthwhile. We do not automatically tie the return to whichever aircraft happened to be available for the outbound sector.
Golden Square Mile, Old Montréal or Mile End: three very different stays
For a luxury city stay, the Golden Square Mile is a calm and central base. Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, Ritz-Carlton Montreal and Le Mount Stephen are well placed for shopping, restaurants and Downtown meetings. Old Montréal feels more historic and is especially attractive for leisure; a hotel such as William Gray makes it easy to walk to dinner. Mile End and the Plateau are more creative and energetic, but less practical when the trip is built around a dense business schedule.
Food can easily become a major part of a Montréal visit. Toqué! suits a classic gastronomic evening Downtown, Damas a more exuberant dinner and Mon Lapin a relaxed but highly sought-after evening in Little Italy. On a short stay, we prefer clustering restaurants and activities by neighbourhood. The city is manageable, but winter weather and evening traffic can take the pleasure out of an over-planned itinerary.
Summer is lively with festivals and long evenings, while September and October are excellent for combining the city with wider Québec. Winter is cold, but Montréal is built around it. For private aviation, winter mainly means allowing for snow, de-icing and extra airport time. Travellers continuing to Mont-Tremblant or a private chalet elsewhere in Québec can travel by road or, for a longer onward journey, add a short private sector to the charter plan.
YHU is attractive precisely because we know when it is not the right airport
YHU’s strength is the combination of a business-aviation environment, a good runway and short distance to Montréal. Its limitation is equally clear: the official customs designation is AOE/15 and CBSA service has published operating hours. That is no issue for most private parties of a few passengers, but a group above 15 people or a late-night arrival makes YUL more likely to be the sensible airport.
We therefore do not put the same airport on every quotation. Passenger count, intended landing time, aircraft performance and final address are checked together. For a Downtown or South Shore hotel, YHU can save meaningful ground time. For a large aircraft with higher take-off requirements, a later departure or broader international-handling needs, Montréal-Trudeau can be the better choice. That comparison belongs before the first charter options are sent.
If an indicative price is shown on the page, it follows the same Super Midsize or Heavy Jet category as the route advice. The final charter price still depends on aircraft positioning, date, length of stay and final airport choice. A slightly larger aircraft or different airport can therefore deliver the better overall journey if it aligns customs, runway performance and ground transfer more effectively.