On Saturday March 22, a brand new Air Canada Café will open its doors to the general public at Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) airport. In the meantime, Milesopedia has been invited to the inauguration!
The entrance to the Air Canada Café is located in the domestic zone, right next to the Maple Leaf Lounge, between doors 3 and 5. In fact, it is located below the Maple Leaf Lounge, while the latter is on the upper floor.
But this is no ordinary café! With this Grab & Go concept, you’ll be able to quickly choose your favorite food and beverages on a self-service basis, then enjoy them on the spot or take them with you on the plane. It’s a bit like having a lounge airport-style “luxury and healthy convenience store”.
The space includes comfortable tables, chairs and banquettes, but without the buffet-style food court we’re used to seeing at an airport lounge.
Provencher Roy, a Quebec-based design and architecture firm, helped bring Air Canada’s vision to the world. The Air Canada Cafés all share the Glowing Hearted signature, but with a local twist.
The decor of this Air Canada Café is inspired by Montreal’s vibrant culture, with artwork created by local artist Mélanie Authier. The ceiling is reminiscent of the shape of Air Canada’s overhead compartments, and the Café’s outward-facing windows are shaped like the windows of the old subway cars in Montreal. As soon as you enter, you’ll notice the “Bonjour” on the floor, underlining the city’s French-speaking character.
Passengers will have access to an exclusive 58-seat area to relax, rest and work, while enjoying:
What’s more, a customer service counter is available to all. One of the Café’s major assets is that the rest areas have plenty of accessible power sockets and USB ports. Given the fast-paced nature of the Café, there is no bathroom.
YUL’s Air Canada Café is accessible to all these types of passengers, just like a Maple Leaf Lounge:
To enter, you’ll need to scan your boarding pass at the electronic gate. You must have a same-day flight within Canada, on Air Canada or its partners.
To the right of the entrance, a self-service station offers a wide selection of Lavazza hot coffee, cold-brewed coffee, juices, sparkling water, tea and soft drinks.
Further on, a large refrigerated counter is stocked with sandwiches, banh-mi and pre-packed wraps, snacks and drinks. There’s something for every taste and every healthy option! Just take what you want, put it in a paper bag and go. There’s a noticeable move away from plastic, with containers and utensils made of paper or wood.
During mealtimes, you’ll find hot bites or sandwiches for quick and easy eating.
Even if all the seats are taken, you can still come and fill your bag and leave straight away to catch your flight.
Air Canada plans to open a few more Cafés across the country over the next few years, all in domestic flight zones.
This Air Canada Café concept can already be found at Toronto Airport (YYZ) in the domestic zone. It’s a little bigger, with a bar and barista on duty, in the center of the café. And there’s another one in the works in Vancouver, due to open in the next few months, in 2025.
The Air Canada Café at Montreal -Trudeau will also serve as a bit of a replacement, as the Maple Leaf Lounge in YUL’s domestic zone will be closing its doors for major renovations in the coming months.
Savings are here (if you don’t see the sign-up form, please click here):
