Some of the first planes to touch down on the new runway at St-Hubert Airport were two 737s from competing commercial charter companies — industrial-sized planes often used by commercial carriers.
READ MORE: Montreal veteran gets 70-year-old wish by flying in B-25 bomber
Although those commercial carriers generally serve customers like firefighters, sports teams and coast guard crews, airport officials hope the new $17-million runway will allow another business to take off.
“We’ll be able to attract larger aircraft, and with a good financial framework, we’re trying to get the low-cost airlines here,” Jane Foyle, the airport’s director-general, told Global News.
The airport is taking aim at low-cost carriers that have so far bypassed Montreal. St-Hubert hopes that adding such carriers will make it the area’s second airport. Executives like Foyle argue that St-Hubert is close and inexpensive for carriers.
Although officials admit the airport needs a terminal soon, they hope to attract a passenger carrier as soon as summer 2019.
READ MORE: Class action lawsuit over noise pollution at Trudeau airport gets green light