Starting as '' Dorval Airport '' , then '' Montréal – Dorval International Airport '' , the airport was renamed '' Montréal – Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport '' in Trudeau 's honour on January 1 , 2004 , by the federal government . The renaming had been announced in September 2003 by then Minister of Transport David Collenette . This move provoked some opposition , especially Quebec sovereigntists opposed to Trudeau 's staunchly federalist policies . The renaming also provoked opposition from many aviation historians and enthusiasts who recalled Trudeau 's role in the effort to shutter Dorval in favour of the much larger and modern Mirabel Airport , of which he was the greatest instigator of its construction . Many Montrealers still refer to Trudeau airport as " Dorval , " or " Dorval Airport . " After the September 11 attacks , Dorval Airport participated in Operation Yellow Ribbon , taking in seven diverted flights that had been bound for the closed airspace over the United States , even though pilots were asked to avoid the airport as a security measure . Mirabel International Airport also took in 10 other diverted flights totaling 17 diverted flight in the Montreal area bound for American cities
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport