Airport Overview
Ottawa International Airport or Macdonald–Cartier International Airport in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, is a Transport Canada designated international airport. It is named after the Canadian statesmen and two of the "founding fathers of Canada", Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
YEG Airport is located in the south end of the city, 5.5 nautical miles (10.2 km; 6.3 mi) south of downtown Ottawa.
Airport Stats & Facts
- YOW Airport’s Canada's sixth-busiest by aircraft movements, with over 5M passengers and 150,000 aircraft movements in 2019.
- The airport is one of eight Canadian airports that have United States border preclearance facilities.
- Ottawa YOW Airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada, and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Airport Traveling Tips
- Passengers arriving from outside of Canada must claim their luggage at carousels 1 or 2 within the Canada Customs Hall, proceed through Customs and Immigration before exiting into the public area of the terminal.
- There are separate check-in areas for passengers flying within Canada or internationally, or for passengers taking U.S.-bound flights.
- Valid government-issued identification is required to board a flight.
- Travellers must arrive at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure.
- Before heading to the airport, please refer to the YOW Airport Map.
Passenger Pickup and Drop-off
- Active loading and unloading means immediate loading and unloading of persons and their belongings upon arrival at the curb.
- Vehicles may not, under any circumstance, be left unattended on the curb.
- Drivers should wait in the Cell Phone Lot for their passengers as vehicles are not permitted to park/wait along either curb.
Flight Status
- For arriving flights: Arrival flight status provides the arrival times, gate information, delays, and time to land for the Ottawa Airport.
- For departing flights: Departing flight status lists scheduled vs actual departure, gate information, map tracking, and flight delays.
- Book a flight at YOW here, to get the best deals.
Airport Terminals
YOW Airport has a terminal with three levels - Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
To see the terminal location, and for more information please refer to the YOW Airport Terminal Map here.
Airlines Served
The various airlines served at YOW Airport include Air Canada, Air North, WestJet, and many more.
View the full list of airlines served at Ottawa Airport here.
Airport Parking
PARKADE (P1)
This parking garage is one of the most convenient parking options at Ottawa/Macdonald–Cartier International Airport.
Rates:
30 minutes: $5 each 30 minutes
24 hours: $20
7 Days: $78
30 Days: $156
Ground Transport
Passengers can choose among a variety of ground transportation options available at Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport including rental cars, taxis, and many more.
Car Rentals
Some of the well-known providers at YOW Airport for car rentals include Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, Budget, plus more.
Taxis
Taxis can be found at Level 1 (Arrivals) and Level 3 (Departures).
Public Transportation
OC Transpo is the public transit provider in Ottawa. Bus Route 97 serves the airport using low-floor, fully accessible buses that can accommodate mobility devices.
Amenities & Services
For visitors to have a great stay, Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport provides plenty of amenities and services including:
- Store, gift shops, and local souvenir shops.
- Restaurants, bars, and cafes.
- Shoeshine stations, and massage bars.
- Free Wi-Fi internet throughout the airport.
- Vending machines, and banks/ATMs.
- Multiple art installations and exhibits on display.
Contact Information
Address: 1000 Airport Parkway Private, Ottawa, ON K1V 9B4, CAN
Website: http://www.ottawa-airport.ca
Phone: 613 248 2000
Ottawa Airport: A Brief History Timeline
- The airport was opened at Uplands on a high plateau (then) south of Ottawa by the Ottawa Flying Club, which still operates from the field.
- During the 1950s, while the airport was still named Uplands and a joint-use civilian/military field, it was the busiest airport in Canada by takeoffs and landings.
- In 1964, the airport was renamed "Ottawa International Airport".
- In 1993, it became "Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport".
- In 2017, the Canadian Border Services Agency started to use facial recognition technology to process incoming international travellers.
