Air Canada is expanding on what I consider one of the smartest lounge innovations in recent years: its grab-and-go “Café” concept.
Air Canada Expands “Café” Lounge Concept
The airline has just opened new Café locations in both Montréal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR), expanding a concept that debuted in Toronto Pearson (YYZ) in the domestic departures area (my review here) and has spread to Toronto Billy Bishop (YTZ), Montreal (domestic departures), and Vancouver (domestic departures).
The new Montreal lounge is in the U.S departures areas and the new Vancouver lounge is in the domestic departures area (becoming the second Café in Concourse C). I’ll lay out details below.
A Lounge Designed For Efficient Connections
Traditional airline lounges are built around an assumption that you have time to sit. But tight connections and sprawling terminals mean many travelers don’t always have the luxury of sitting in a lounge before or between flights. They want something fast, high-quality, and preferably to-go…exactly what Air Canada Café delivers.
Instead of a large buffet and expansive seating area, these lounges focus on premium grab-and-go food and drinks, with some limited seating for those who want to stay.
Think barista-made coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and local pastries…a simple and brilliant idea.
New Locations In Montréal And Vancouver
Air Canada is now doubling this concept at two of its hubs.
In Vancouver, the airline has opened a second Café in the domestic terminal near gates 50–51, featuring an 84-seat space with a full-service bar, barista coffee, and locally inspired food like bao buns and fresh kimbap.
The menu draws from seasonal and locally sourced ingredients that reflect Vancouver’s vibrant culinary landscape. Customers can enjoy favourites such as warm char siu pork bao buns, vegan curry bao, freshly made vegetarian Kimbap and sweet treats from the iconic Granville Island institution, Lee’s Donuts.
Meanwhile, Montréal has gained a new Café in the U.S. departures (transborder) area, with a 62-seat space focused on the city’s coffee culture and local specialties like smoked meat sandwiches, bagels, and pastries.
The menu features iconic Montréal classics including smoked meat sandwiches, fresh bagels, and artisanal pastries like a delectable pistachio croissant alongside a vegan soup created by Sagamité Watso, a Québec-based, Indigenous-owned business
I’m particularly looking forward to this lounge since the transborder Maple Leaf Lounge is rather depressing and, to my knowledge, the other Air Canada Café in YUL does not have barista coffee, just machines.
Both lounges emphasize locally sourced food and drink, along with quick service designed for travelers on the move.
In total, the network has now grown to six Café locations across Canada.
Why This Is My Favorite Lounge Concept
I do believe this is the lounge concept of the future that we will see more of in the USA going forward. It really all began with the Lufthansa Senator Café in Munich (MUC) but has now spread to the USA in terms of the United Club Fly lounges in Denver (DEN) and Houston (IAH), the American Airlines’ Provisions by Admirals Club concept in Charlotte (CLT), and a new to-go area at the Concourse B Delta Sky Club in Atlanta (ATL).
Good coffee is the #1 amenity for me at any airport lounge and I welcome the thoughtful focus on good coffee from Air Canada…look no further than the ridiculous long lines for inferior coffee at virtually every Starbucks coffee to recognize that when lounges provide high quality coffee drinks, they satisfy a great need.
More broadly, the airline business model requires in teh USA is based on loyalty programs and that profitability requires more people to sign up for premium card. Unfortunately, lounges are not growing fast enough to accommodate the crowds, which is why we see such horrendous lines, particularly at Delta Sky Clubs. These grab-and-go lounges offer a welcome “overflow” to traditional lounges.
CONCLUSION
Air Canada’s Café concept is expanding, with new locations in Montréal and Vancouver.
It’s a simple idea done well: premium food and drinks plus fast service, perfectly timed for short connections and smartly addressing lounge overcrowding. If there’s one airline lounge concept I wish more carriers would copy, it’s this one.
Well done AC!
What a great design and space!
In this amazing Air Canada Café trend, don’t forget YHZ, dear AC!
This is not new at all. Lufthansa were doing it at German airports in the 1990s. It was at the gates at all German airports and was cut as a saving.
I just visited one of the YVR ones a week ago and have also been to the ones at YYZ and YUL. Great concept and execution all around.