U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) temporarily halted operations at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport on July 29, 2026, due to a strong odour linked to varnish and painting materials used in nearby construction.
Approximately 20 flights destined for the United States were cancelled following the suspension of customs processing. Passengers were advised to verify the status of their flights with airlines before traveling to the airport to anticipate the disruption.
Airport officials emphasized that USCBP operations are resuming gradually but warned that delays remain likely. The Montreal Fire Department inspected the affected customs area and confirmed the odour did not constitute
a health risk. The odour originated from painting work occurring as part of ongoing construction at the airport.
Montréal-Trudeau Airport is in the midst of a $10-billion redevelopment, one of the largest infrastructure projects in its history, scheduled to continue over the next decade. The construction work producing the varnish odour affects several sections, including areas adjacent to customs facilities.
To address the issue, ventilation systems around the customs area were intensified to clear the odour. USCBP is restoring operations step-by-step, with airport management assuring passengers that efforts are underway to resume normal services as quickly as possible, although delays
are expected to persist.
