Cheap Flights from Montréal (YUL)

Montréal–Trudeau is Canada’s best airport for cheap flights to France, Portugal and the Caribbean, thanks to head-to-head competition between Air Canada, Air Transat and European airlines. The lowest fares usually appear in January–February, May and October–November.

Quick answer

• Main carriers: Air Canada and Air Transat run hubs here, with WestJet, Porter and Flair adding domestic and sun competition.
• Cheapest months: January–February outside holidays, May, and October–November.
• Best-value routes: Paris, Lisbon, Rome, Punta Cana, Cancún, Orlando and New York.
• Cheap airport access: the STM 747 express bus runs 24/7 from downtown.
• Alternatives: Plattsburgh for some Florida flights, and Ottawa for Porter-heavy domestic routes.

Airlines and where they fly

Air Canada runs a major hub at YUL, with nonstop flights across Canada and to dozens of cities in Europe, the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and beyond. Air Transat is headquartered in Montréal, and its leisure network to France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and the sun is a major source of deals. Air Transat has also been expanding its winter program, adding new sun destinations and keeping some European routes year-round.

Porter has grown quickly in Montréal with flights to Western Canada, Atlantic Canada and US sun spots. WestJet serves Calgary, Vancouver and holiday destinations, and Flair has been adding Montréal routes, including Cancún for winter 2026–27. Air France, TAP Air Portugal and US carriers round out the field.

Heads up: Canadian service to Cuba was suspended in 2026 during the island’s jet fuel shortage. Before you book a Varadero or Cayo Coco trip, confirm the current status with the airline or tour operator.

Cheapest times to fly from Montréal

Montréal’s peaks are predictable: Christmas and New Year, the late-February to early-March school break, and the summer holidays, including the construction holiday in late July. Outside those windows, prices fall fast.

Period	What to expect from YUL
Mid-January to mid-February	Good sun and Europe fares
Late February to March	Spring break pushes up sun prices
May	Strong value to Europe before summer
July–August	Peak prices, especially to France
October–November	Often the best all-round value

Our cheapest days and months guide explains why mid-week departures usually save money.

Best-value routes from YUL

Paris is Montréal’s signature route, with several nonstops a day and frequent sales, particularly for spring, fall and winter travel. Read our Paris destination guide to see what a good fare looks like. Lisbon and Porto are the other standouts; Air Transat, TAP and Air Canada all compete.

Rome, Barcelona and Brussels also go on sale outside summer. For sun, Punta Cana and Cancún are the volume leaders, with all-inclusive packages often priced aggressively in May, early June and the fall. Orlando and Fort Lauderdale are popular winter escapes, while New York is a quick, often inexpensive weekend hop.

Pro tip: Transatlantic fares from Montréal are often lower than from Québec City or Ottawa. If you live within a couple of hours, compare the cost of getting to YUL against flying from your local airport.

Nearby airports that can save you money

• Ottawa (YOW): about two hours west, with a big Porter network and some sun routes. Worth comparing for domestic trips.
• Plattsburgh (PBG), New York: about an hour south of the border, marketed to Montrealers. Allegiant has flown to Florida, while Breeze paused its service; check what is currently operating.
• Burlington (BTV), Vermont: around two hours away, with connecting service through US hubs.

Our guide to flying from US border airports covers the border, parking and exchange-rate math.

Getting to YUL without wasting money

The STM 747 express bus runs between downtown and the airport 24 hours a day. At the time of writing, the airport fare works as a 24-hour pass across the STM network, which makes it great value if you are arriving and exploring the city the same day. Check the current fare and downtown stop locations on the STM site, since construction has shifted some stops.

The REM light-rail station at the airport is under construction and targeted for 2027. In summer 2026, a seasonal STM shuttle linked the REM’s Des Sources station with the airport; watch for it to return.

Airport parking is costly for long trips, so compare off-site lots, which often run free shuttles.

Tips for YUL

• Look at Air Transat for Europe and the sun; its fares often undercut the competition outside summer.
• For Paris, try flying mid-week in late October, November or January.
• Package deals to Punta Cana and Cancún can beat flight-only prices; see our all-inclusive deals guide.
• Check whether a Porter or Flair fare includes the bags you need before comparing.

Bottom line

Montréal is one of the best places in Canada to catch cheap flights to Europe and the Caribbean. Avoid the holiday peaks, compare Air Transat against the big carriers, and join our free deal alerts to hear about Paris and Lisbon sales first.