Montreal International Airport, known to Montrealers simply by its code YUL (pronounced “yool”) or, more officially, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, is very close to downtown. But, unfortunately, with the traffic—which is often very stressful on the way to the airport—getting there takes a long time and causes panic attacks, arguments, and somewhat sweaty car rides.
To get to the airport without a car, there’s a great bus that’s (almost) always on time: the STM’s 747. You’ll need to buy an $11.25 ticket (a “day pass” that gives you access to Montreal’s public transit system for 24 hours) and allow about an hour for the trip.
Air Canada, with a new shuttle that departs from downtown and travels (quickly) directly to the airport without any stops, cuts the travel time in half and costs less than the 747—but be aware, it’s reserved for those traveling with the Canadian airline.
YUL, Montreal traffic, and the bus routes that get you there faster
The STM has accepted the introduction of the Air Canada shuttle because it was designed to replace trips made by people driving to the airport (or taking a taxi, Uber, private driver, or chartered bus) and not really to replace the much-loved 747 bus.
The shuttle departs from the Palais des Congrès, right in downtown Montreal—near the Place d’Armes metro station. It makes 37 round trips between the Palais des Congrès and Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport per day and costs $9 (before taxes).
You can hop on an Air Canada shuttle bound for YUL every 15–30 minutes, from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. The ride is guaranteed to be fast, because the shuttle uses a dedicated lane with no traffic.
Of course, this is only for those traveling with Air Canada. For everyone else, you’ll have to take the 747 bus.
