Aerospace and Logistics: The Montreal Nexus
The Strategic Synergy of Aerospace and Logistics: The Montreal Nexus
Baie-D’Urfé, QC – August 19, 2026 – The Greater Montreal Area stands as a premier global aerospace capital, representing nearly 98% of Quebec’s aerospace activity. It is one of the unique regions globally where an entire aircraft can be assembled using locally manufactured components. At this scale, the relationship between aerospace and logistics is highly symbiotic.
Aviation serves as the primary engine for high-value, time-sensitive global supply chains, a reality deeply anchored by Montreal’s industrial capacity. While air cargo accounts for less than 1% of global trade by volume, it represents over 35% by value. The wide-body freighters and regional aircraft developed by operators like Airbus Canada and Bombardier provide the fuel efficiencies necessary to sustain modern cross-border e-commerce and rapid fulfillment models. Roughly half of all global air freight is moved as "belly cargo" within scheduled passenger flights. Major carriers maximize global capacity by integrating cargo into thousands of daily passenger routes, avoiding the need to deploy independent, empty freight fleets.