Fuel prices are creeping up again. That's not a good sign for airlines.
https://news.alphastreet.com/airline-companies-stare-at-a-burning-issue-as-fuel-prices-skyrocket/
AC, in Q1 2018, had record high revenues, and still managed to lose money. (a net operating loss of $14 million.)
https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/ai...uarterly-result/2018/2018_q1_release.pdf
I expect AC will start retiring older planes sooner rather than later.
They already deferred delivery of 11 737s by up to 3 years.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl...-delivery-of-11-737-max-aircraft-448199/
Growth will start slowing in the next few years.
As for YUL's new renderings, they look nice, but let's not forget one thing. Any hiccup, be it a drop in passenger numbers, a recession,
rising fuel prices, dare I say, a referendum, and part of these plans will be put on hold.
The $2.5 billion is only for the next 5 years, and that money is planned for 1 remote pier (11 gates, busing operations), repaving runway 06L/24R, adding/realigning some taxiways, a new connection center, improving road access to airport and rebuilding the multi-level car park to accommodate for the REM. That is all.
All of the rest is if traffic keeps up with what is forecast. Right now, signs are pointing to a slowdown. Time will tell what happens.