Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, also known as Jean Lesage International Airport (French: Aéroport international Jean-Lesage de Québec, or Aéroport de Québec) (IATA: YQB, ICAO: CYQB), is the primary airport serving Quebec City, Canada. Designated as an international airport by Transport Canada,^[5] it is located eleven kilometres (six nautical miles) west-southwest of the city. In 2023, it was the 12th-busiest airport in Canada, with 1,688,736 passengers.^[4] More than 10 airlines offer 360 weekly flights to destinations across Canada, the United States, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport Aéroport international Jean-Lesage de Québec
IATA: YQB ICAO: CYQB WMO: 71708
Summary
Airport type	Public / Military
Owner	Transport Canada
Operator	Aéroport de Québec Inc.
Serves	Québec City metropolitan area
Location	L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec
Focus city for	Air Transat
Time zone	EST (UTC−05:00)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC−04:00)
Elevation AMSL	244 ft / 74 m
Coordinates	46°47′28″N 071°23′36″W
Public transit access	RTC  76   80
Website	www.aeroportdequebec.com
Map
CYQB
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 06/24 9,000 2,743 Asphalt 11/29 5,700 1,737 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers 1,688,736 Aircraft movements 117,680
Sources: Canada Flight Supplement[1] Environment Canada[2] Movements from Statistics Canada[3] Passenger statistics from Aéroport de Québec[4]

Overview

Inside the terminal

Inside the airport terminal

The airport was established in 1939, a year after the closure of the Aérodrome Saint-Louis. First established as a training facility for air observers, the first flight occurred on September 11, 1941. First known as the Aéroport de l'Ancienne Lorette, then the Aéroport de Sainte-Foy, and later the Aéroport de Québec, it was renamed to Aéroport international Jean-Lesage in 1993, in honour of Jean Lesage, the former Premier of Quebec. The airport is managed and operated by Aéroport de Québec inc., a non-profit and non-share corporation. The current terminal building has a capacity of 1.4 million passengers annually.^[6]

Beginning in 2006, with a budget of $65.8 million, Québec/Jean Lesage International Airport underwent a modernization designed to increase the terminal's capacity and substantially enhance the level of passenger service.^{[citation needed]} The modernization included a reconfiguration of the terminal on two levels, a restructuring of the baggage handling area and arrivals area, as well as a reconfiguration and enlargement of the waiting rooms. Fifty-four percent of the financing was provided directly by Aéroport de Québec inc. Completed in June 2008, the new configuration of the airport now enables it to handle 1.4 million passengers a year.^{[citation needed]}

Based on the passenger figures for 2009 and 2010, it became clear that the terminal building would reach its design capacity by 2012. Aéroport de Québec inc. is therefore planning further investments of nearly $300 million to further expand the terminal building.^[6] Presently the terminal has 17 gates: 12 contact gates and 5 walk-out aircraft positions. This will increase to 24 gates by 2025.^[7]

On July 4, 2011, work began on the second phase of the airport expansion, which lasted until 2017. Partially funded through an Airport Improvement Fee, the terminal building doubled in size, at a cost of $224.8 million. The work included an expansion of the international facilities, construction work on the runways, taxiways and de-icing pads, as well as enhancements to customer service facilities.^[8] On September 19, 2013, runway 12/30 was renamed to runway 11/29.

The airport charges an Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) to each passenger, it is amongst the highest in Canada at $35 per passenger.^[9]

On 10 March 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama announced the addition of the airport to the list of Canadian airports containing U.S. border preclearance facilities.^[10][11] In 2019, Trudeau and President Donald Trump also announced that the airport would obtain border preclearance.^[12] However, as of March 2024, preclearance is not yet available.^[13]

On December 11, 2017, the first phase of YQB2018, the expansion project, was completed with the opening of the new international terminal. The new facility features more dedicated baggage carousels serving international flights, new customs area, expanded food court and restaurant areas including Starbucks, Pidz and Nourc, four new gates (34 to 37), improved and larger loading area for cars and buses and a larger capacity baggage area.

The last expansion phase was completed in the summer of 2019 with the domestic and international terminals being linked together.

Also added as part of the most recent expansion are 10 holes in the security fence placed at positions determined jointly by the airport authority and a local plane spotting group. These holes are sized to allow photographers to insert telephoto lenses, and are specifically reserved for their use. In 2019, the American website Digital Photography Review called the airport "the number one spot for aviation photographers".^[14]

Facilities

Infrastructure

YQB International Airport receives a wide variety of long-, mid- and short-haul aircraft. The airport has two runways. Its longest runway northeast-southwesterly direction is 06/24, having a length of 9,000 by 150 ft (2,743 by 46 m). Runway 24 is YQB's main approach pattern equipped with Area navigation (RNAV), required navigation performance (RNP) and non-directional beacon (NDB) approach. Runway 06 has the same approaches with the addition of an instrument landing system (ILS).

There are seven taxiways, Alpha (connecting the main apron with runway 24), Bravo (connecting the main apron with runway 29), Charlie, Delta (parallel to the 06/24), Echo (connecting the main apron with runway 24), Golf (which links Delta to the threshold of runway 06) and Hotel (between Golf and runway 11/29). The airport aprons can accommodate light to large aircraft (12 aerobridge and 9 remote) simultaneously and is designed to accommodate wide-body jet airliners as large as the Boeing 747-400. YQB doesn't have a Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) or Parallax Aircraft Parking Aid (PAPA), all stands are assisted by ground operations using marshalling wands–handheld illuminated beacons.

Ramp 3 is where all the flight schools and private airlines are located. Chrono Aviation, Skyjet/Air Liaison, Orizon Aviation, CFAQ, Strait Air and Avjet/TSAS are the main users of this apron.

Runway and aprons

Runways at YQB

Runway	Length / width	Runway	Notes
06 →	9,000 by 150 ft 2,743 by 46 m	← 24	Runway 06/24 is equipped with high intensity runway edge lighting [AN(TE HI)]. Runway 24 end has a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) system. RWY24 : NDB, RNAV (GNSS), RNAV (RNP) // RWY06 : ILS, RNAV (GNSS), RNAV (RNP)
11 →	5,700 by 150 ft 1,737 by 46 m	← 29	Runway 11/29 is equipped with medium intensity runway edge lighting [AO(TE ME)] and precision approach path indicator (PAPI) system. RWY29 : RNAV (GNSS), RNAV (RNP) // RWY11 : RNAV (GNSS), RNAV (RNP)

Airlines and destinations

Terminal

Deicing unit airside

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Air Canada	Seasonal: Vancouver
Air Canada Express	Ottawa
Air Canada Rouge	Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson Seasonal: Cancún (resumes October 31, 2024),[15] Fort Lauderdale (resumes October 31, 2024),[15] Orlando (resumes October 30, 2024),[15] Punta Cana (resumes October 30, 2024),[15] Tulum (begins December 13, 2024)[15]
Air France	Seasonal: Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Air Inuit	Montréal–Trudeau, Kuujjuaq, Schefferville, Sept-Îles
Air Liaison	Montréal–Saint-Hubert, Rouyn-Noranda, Sept-Îles, Toronto–Pearson, Val-d'Or
Air Transat	Cancún, Fort Lauderdale, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Punta Cana Seasonal: Cayo Coco, Holguín, London–Gatwick, Montréal–Trudeau, Orlando, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, Samaná, Santa Clara, Tulum (begins December 21, 2024),[16] Varadero
American Eagle	Seasonal: Charlotte,[17] Chicago–O'Hare, Philadelphia
Flair Airlines	Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson[18]
PAL Airlines	Gaspé, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Montréal–Trudeau, Sept-Îles, Wabush
Pascan Aviation	Bonaventure, Gaspé, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Mont-Joli, Montréal–Saint-Hubert, Sept-Îles, Wabush
Porter Airlines	Toronto–Billy Bishop Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson[19]
Sunwing Airlines	Cancún, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Punta Cana, Varadero Seasonal: Cayo Largo del Sur, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, Río Hato, Roatán, Santa Clara
United Express	Newark Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare[20]
WestJet	Seasonal: Calgary

Cargo

Airlines	Destinations
UPS operated by SkyLink Express	Montréal–Mirabel

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at YQB airport. See Wikidata query.

Passenger statistics^[4][21][22] and aircraft movements^{[3][23][24][25][26][27]} for Jean Lesage International Airport

Year	Total passengersA	Aircraft movements
2000	672,829	142,612
2001	642,767	151,650
2002	610,568	135,646
2003	628,545	116,523
2004	715,106	109,180
2005	793,735	101,367
2006	802,263	109,031
2007	899,612	119,441
2008	1,022,862	125,512
2009	1,035,026	128,890
2010	1,190,088	126,856
2011	1,313,432	128,748
2012	1,342,840	133,675
2013	1,475,717	118,265
2014	1,574,699	112,468
2015	1,584,713	110,345
2016	1,615,750	116,190
2017	1,670,880	121,680
2018	1,774,871	137,228
2019	1,789,005	144,963
2020	535,111	117,390
2021	353,203	129,649
2022	1,174,321	134,400
2023	1,688,736	117,680

• ^A Statistics prior to 2009 are from Transport Canada. From 2009 on statistics are from Aéroport de Québec (ADQ). Transport Canada's statistics are consistently higher than those of ADQ.

Top domestic destinations

Busiest domestic flights out of YQB by frequency

Rank	Destinations (operated by)	Carriers
1	Montreal	Air Canada, Air Transat, Air Inuit, PAL Airlines
2	Toronto	Air Canada, WestJet
3	Saint-Hubert	Pascan Aviation
4	Sept-Iles	Air Canada, Air Inuit, Pascan Aviation
5	Gaspé	Pascan Aviation, PAL Airlines

Top United States destinations

Busiest transborder flights out of YQB by frequency

Rank	Destinations (operated by)	Carriers
1	Newark	United Airlines
2	Chicago	American Airlines, United Airlines
3	Philadelphia	American Airlines
4	Fort Lauderdale	Air Transat, Air Canada
5	Orlando	Air Transat

Top international destinations

Busiest international flights out of YQB by frequency

Rank	Destinations (operated by)	Carriers
1	Punta Cana	Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines
2	Cancún	Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines
3	Varadero	Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines
4	Santa Clara	Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines
5	Paris	Air Transat, Air France

Access

Public transportation to the airport is provided by Réseau de transport de la Capitale route 76 to Via Rail's Sainte-Foy station and route 80 to downtown.

Accidents and incidents

• On 9 September 1949, Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 108 on a flight from Montreal to Baie-Comeau with a stopover in Quebec City crash-landed east of Quebec City when a bomb exploded on board shortly after departing from Quebec City Jean Lesage Airport (then known as L'Ancienne-Lorette Airport), killing all 19 passengers and four crew. The incident and trial that followed would be known as the Albert Guay affair.
• On 29 March 1979, Quebecair Flight 255, a Fairchild F-27, crashed after take-off, killing 17 and injuring seven.
• On 23 June 2010, a Beechcraft A100 King Air of Aeropro (C-FGIN) crashed north of the airport just after taking off from runway 30 (now runway 29), killing all seven people on board.^[28]
• On 12 October 2017, for the first time in North America, a drone collided with a passenger plane. The drone struck the turboprop passenger plane operated by Skyjet Aviation while it was on approach. The drone was operating above the 90 m (300 ft) flight height restriction and within the 5 km (3.1 mi) exclusion zone around airports, violating drone operating regulations.^[29][30]

See also

• Québec/Lac Saint-Augustin Water Airport

References

1. Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
2. "Synoptic/Metstat Station Information". weatheroffice.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
3. "Aircraft movements, by class of operation, airports with NAV CANADA services and other selected airports, monthly". Statistics Canada. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
4. "Statistics - Aéroport international Jean-Lesage de Québec (YQB)". Aéroport international Jean-Lesage de Québec (YQB). Retrieved 30 April 2022.
5. Canada, Transport (January 21, 2021). "Advisory Circular (AC) No. 302-032". 00000000 00000000.
6. Le Soleil (8 November 2010). "L'aéroport de Québec trop petit d'ici deux ans" (in French). Cyberpresse.ca. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
7. "Aéroport de Québec Master Plan" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2010.
8. La Presse (4 July 2011). "L'aéroport de Québec s'agrandit (french)". Cyberpresse.ca. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
9. "Airport Improvement Fees (AIFs)". Archived from the original on 2017-09-20.
10. "Travellers to U.S. will soon be able to clear customs at Montreal's central train station - CBC News". cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
11. Young, Leslie. "More pre-clearance locations at airports, train stations mean easier travel to US: tourism association". Retrieved 24 March 2021.
12. "Canada and U.S. agree to expand preclearance options for travellers, goods". 21 June 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
13. "Preclearance in Canada and the United States". 15 August 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
14. Demolder, Damien (May 22, 2019). "Camera-friendly Canadian airport cuts holes in perimeter fence for aviation photographers". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
15. "Air Canada Offers Québec City Region a New Hotspot for This Winter with Non-stop Flights to Tulum". aircanada.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
16. "Air Transat announces new non-stop route between Tulum and Québec City". Aéroport de Québec. July 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
17. "American Adds Charlotte – Quebec City From August 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
18. Parkinson, Bruce (1 November 2023). "Flair Touts Improved Performance, Announces New YVR-GDL & YYZ-YQB Routes". TravelPulse Canada. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
19. "Porter Airlines Adds Toronto Pearson – Quebec City Service in mid-2Q24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
20. "United Resumes Winnipeg and Chicago – Quebec in NS24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
21. Top 100 Airports Ranked by Enplaned and Deplaned Passengers, Selected Services or Passengers enplaned and deplaned on selected services — Top 50 airports, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, 2007 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
22. "Air Carrier Traffic at Canadian Airports: Table 1-1 — Passengers enplaned and deplaned on selected services — Top 50 airports". www.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
23. "Aircraft movements, by class of operation and peak hour and peak day of movements, for airports with NAV CANADA towers, monthly". Statistics Canada. 27 June 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
24. Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Aircraft Movement Statistics: NAV CANADA Towers and Flight Service Stations: Annual Report (TP 577): Table 2-1 — Total aircraft movements by class of operation — NAV CANADA towers". www.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
25. Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Aircraft Movement Statistics: NAV CANADA Towers and Flight Service Stations: Annual Report (TP 577): Table 2-1 — Total aircraft movements by class of operation — NAV CANADA towers". www.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
26. Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Aircraft Movement Statistics: NAV CANADA Towers and Flight Service Stations: Annual Report (TP 577): Table 2-1 — Total aircraft movements by class of operation — NAV CANADA towers". www.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
27. "TP577 - Aircraft Movement Statistics Annual Report. Transport Canada 2004" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2008.
28. CBC News (23 June 2010). "Quebec City plane crash cause unclear". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
29. "A first in Canada: Drone collides with passenger plane above Quebec City airport". CBC. 2017-10-15. Archived from the original on 2017-10-18.
30. "Drone collides with commercial aeroplane in Canada". BBC. 2017-10-16. Archived from the original on 2017-10-18.

External links

• Aéroport de Québec official website (English)
• Past three hours METARs, SPECI and current TAFs for Québec/Jean Lesage International Airport from Nav Canada as available.