Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
Ottawa's main airport — officially Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. One terminal, two concourses, direct flights across Canada, the US, and seasonal international destinations.
Features
Airport Code & Location
Ottawa's airport code is YOW. The full name is Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, named after two of Canada's founding prime ministers. It's located about 10 km south of downtown Ottawa, a 15–20 minute drive via the Airport Parkway.
Terminal & Gates
YOW has a single terminal with two concourses:
- Concourse A — 14 gates (domestic & transborder US)
- Concourse B — 12 gates (domestic & US preclearance)
The terminal is compact and easy to navigate. Security wait times are posted on the airport's website and app.
Getting To & From the Airport
- By car — Airport Parkway connects directly to Highway 417
- OC Transpo — Route 97 runs between the airport and downtown (Mackenzie King station). About 25 minutes, $3.75 regular fare
- Taxi/Rideshare — Pick-up area is outside the arrivals level. Downtown is typically $30–40
- Car rental — All major companies have counters in the terminal
Parking
- Short-term (covered): $5 per 30 min
- P1 (close): $24/day
- P4 (economy): $17/day
- Weekly: $105/week
- Monthly: $210/month
Book online at yow.ca/parking for discounts.
Hotels Near the Airport
Three hotels are on airport property:
- Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport — directly connected to the terminal. Walk to your gate
- Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport — excellent soundproofing, under 1 km
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Ottawa Airport — 0.8 km, near EY Centre
Airlines & Destinations
YOW serves destinations across Canada, the US, Caribbean, and seasonal European routes. Major airlines include Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, United, American Airlines, and Delta.
Contact
- Phone: 613-248-2000
- Website: yow.ca
- Live arrivals: yow.ca/flights/arrivals
- Live departures: yow.ca/flights/departures
- Twitter/X: FlyYOW
Tips
- Arrive 2 hours early for domestic, 3 hours for US/international
- US Preclearance — you clear US customs in Ottawa before boarding, so you arrive as a domestic passenger in the US
- Food options — several restaurants and cafes past security in both concourses
- Free WiFi — available throughout the terminal
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Information may change. Please verify details on the official website before visiting.