Air Canada is expanding its innovative Air Canada Cafe concept to a third airport…
In this post:
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.
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?
Bravo. As a first chair person on Star Alliance facilitation, I applaude this innovation.Norm Klemm
Ben,
I'm curious why you believe the lounge is really that brilliant?
It looks tiny and contrary to YYZ, there's no Barista at all. This is a 'café' without a counter, no cocktails or coffees being prepared. It's better than nothing, but it's lost what makes the YYZ space fun to hang out at.
The "Air Canada Cafe" at Billy Bishop (YTZ) is not at all the same concept as the "Air Canada Cafe" at Pearson (YYZ). I think AC just doesn't want to brand either of them as Maple Leaf Lounges. The YTZ lounge is essentially a co-branded Aspire lounge and is no more a "grab-and-go" service than a normal MLL. It has a buffet with hot and cold dishes.
I didn't see the now-removed comments about Canada...
The "Air Canada Cafe" at Billy Bishop (YTZ) is not at all the same concept as the "Air Canada Cafe" at Pearson (YYZ). I think AC just doesn't want to brand either of them as Maple Leaf Lounges. The YTZ lounge is essentially a co-branded Aspire lounge and is no more a "grab-and-go" service than a normal MLL. It has a buffet with hot and cold dishes.
I didn't see the now-removed comments about Canada that others objected to, but as a long-time OMAAT reader, I'm sure I would have taken them in the spirit Ben intended. However, like someone else mentioned, I don't think most Americans are really aware of the depth and severity of the current sentiment in Canada. It has quickly become socially unacceptable to travel to the US. This is something I'm struggling with as a frequent US visitor with trips booked (and UA 1K hoping to retain that status).
No such thing as a “Montreal-inspired bagel”, they’re Montreal-style bagels and they’re so much better than NY-style ones!
Have been to Montreal countless times and have lots of friends there, but I'll never understand the Montreal bagel. They're often hard as a rock and small. Nothing compares to an NYC bagel.
Unlike the comments related to the 51st state, we shall not go to war with Americans over the bagel debate. Ours is obviously superior. The mood up here, however, is less charitable to comments that are perceived almost as a threat by the leader of one nation to overthrow another nation. Ben's Premier Santos may notice a significant drop in Canadian visitors to Florida next year with consequent revenue implications for his constituents.
'Premier Santos'! Now I have to clean the coffee of my screen.
Will CSR customers have access to this cafe? Some Maple Leaf Lounges are allowing CSR customers access.
Didn't LH come up with this first? See https://onemileatatime.com/lufthansa-munich-lounge-food-to-go/
So AC and UAL are following LH's lead and LH should get the credit.
Its too bad they aren't opening something similar in the transborder departures area because there is just one lounge and it belongs to AC and can get crowded.
The YUL transborder lounge desperately needs a revamp. The food area is crowded, the menu options are awful, and the space is itself is way too small for the number of people who can access it.
Totally agree -- maybe an upside to a Canadian boycott of vacationing in the US is that the transborder lounge, and entire terminal, will be less crowded.
I sure hope so.
Ben, long-time reader from Canada. First-time commenter. I agree with the others. Jokes about Canada's sovereignty are viewed as a form of bullying and are offensive. I expected better from this blog.
@ Chad -- I've gone ahead and removed the comment. Obviously some things just don't come come across with the intended effect in writing, so my apologies...
Respectfully, hopefully some can appreciate that some people deal with ridiculous/sad developments with humor. Canada isn't the only one who has something to lose with this administration's policies, and my community has been under attack as well. The way I partly try to deal with that is humor and sarcasm...
Well-said, Ben.
What a ignorant comment about 51st state domestic. It's America's president that is a Dumpster fire, not Canada's.
@ John -- I think you might be missing my humor, if you think I have a different take...
Hi Ben: I understood your intention as humour. But I think many (most) Americans don't quite understand the level of discomfort, offensive and upset in Canada right now.
My older parents aren't buying any American products at all, my (conservative-voting) brother and his wife cancelled their Costco membership and a trip to Arizona, and on it goes.
Lots of sensitivity - just so you know.
@ 23H -- As they should, good for them. And similarly, I have a high level of discomfort as well, as a gay person with a kid. But my way of dealing with that is humor... I realize that doesn't land with some others, though.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I'm like you... a little humour often helps.
I'm Canadian but have spent half my adult life in the States. Americans are some of my dearest friends. And this is my favourite blog. :).
Thank you.
@ 23H -- I appreciate you, and I'm sorry it came across in a way that's offensive. I get it's a sensitive time, and I'm horrified by the way Canada is being treated (along with so many other groups).
If you keep saying sorry, we'll think you're Canadian :P.
Honestly, I know you meant it well. There's no reason to apologise at all. People are feeling sensitive right now - and I understand being a gay dad you feeling that way as well.
We all gotta be good to one another.
Now to figure out if my brother cancelled his Costco membership because its a US company, or because it mean's my sister-in-law will spend $400 less a week.... hahah.
North Mexicans (i.e. inhabitants of the country north of the Gulf of Mexico)
Please point out to your less knowledgeable fellow-citizens that there are 8 Canadian provinces with populations greater than Wyoming.
Imagine what 16 more Senators who would not be Republican would do to the political balance of your country!
No offense and not to appear unsympathetic. but at least you're not living in the country governed by an unstable sociopath ....
I think you mean "11th Province domestic"