On July 29, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) temporarily suspended operations at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, leading to the cancellation of approximately 20 U.S.-bound flights. The halt in customs processing disrupted outbound traffic at the airport’s international terminal.
Cause and Mitigation Efforts
The suspension was triggered by a strong odour of varnish linked to painting work on nearby construction materials at the airport. The Montreal Fire Department conducted an inspection of the affected area and determined that the odour posed no health risk to passengers or staff. To address the issue, ventilation in the affected zone was increased to disperse the odour.
Passenger Impact and Airport Advisory
The
temporary closure of U.S. Customs led to cancellations and delays for travelers on flights bound for the United States. Passengers were urged to verify their flight status with airlines before traveling to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. Officials warned that additional delays and cancellations remained possible while operations resumed.
Official Responses
Montreal-Trudeau Airport authorities confirmed that USCBP operations were in the process of gradually resuming, but cautioned passengers to expect continued delays. Airport representatives stated that the varnish odour, although unpleasant, did not present any health hazard. USCBP also expressed apologies for the inconvenience and advised direct inquiries about U.S. preclearance to be directed
to their agency.
The incident coincides with the airport’s ongoing $10-billion redevelopment project, which involves extensive construction expected to continue throughout the next decade.
