Ottawa Airport: Size, Scale, And Significance

The Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, also known as YOW, is located 14 kilometres from downtown Ottawa, in the National Capital Region and the Ottawa–Gatineau Metropolitan Area. The airport is accessible by bus, taxi, rideshare, and car rental. It operates one passenger terminal building for domestic, international, and US transborder flights, with three levels for arrivals, departures, and administration. The airport has a US pre-clearance facility, allowing passengers to clear customs in Ottawa.

Location and surroundings

The Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, also known as the Ottawa International Airport, is located in Riverside South, 5.5 nautical miles south of downtown Ottawa, Canada. It is situated within the National Capital Region and the Ottawa–Gatineau Metropolitan Area, specifically at 1000 Airport Parkway Private, Ottawa. The airport is about 14 kilometres from downtown Ottawa.

The Ottawa International Airport is accessible by various transportation options. OC Transpo, Ottawa's public transit system, provides regular bus services and on-demand paratransit services between the city and the airport. Bus 97 is the only scheduled bus service that serves the airport, operating during regular hours and early morning to late-night hours. Taxis are also available at the centre arrivals door, with a queue attendant who can assist with accessible vehicle arrangements if needed. Rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft are authorised to pick up and drop off passengers at the airport, with a $3.25 drop-off fee and a $4 pick-up fee.

For those driving to the airport, parking options are available, including long-term and overnight surface lots. Car rental services can be found on-site at the Parkade (P1) Level. The airport has a single passenger terminal building that manages domestic, international, and US transborder flights. Level 1 serves as the arrivals area, with baggage claim and ground transportation services, while Level 2 is dedicated to departure gates and administration offices. Level 3 facilitates check-in, security, and US pre-clearance procedures.

The Ottawa International Airport has a rich history in aviation. The first powered flight over Ottawa took place in 1911, but it wasn't until the 1920s that a landing field, initially called Hunt Club Field, was established. In July 1927, Charles Lindbergh arrived at the Hunt Club Field, which was subsequently renamed Lindbergh Field to commemorate this event. The airport has continued to modernise its facilities, including the construction of the US Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility, allowing for convenient customs clearance in Ottawa.

Transport options

The Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, commonly known as the Ottawa International Airport, is located in Riverside South, about 14 kilometres south of downtown Ottawa. The airport offers a variety of transportation options to get you to your destination.

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. Line 4 of the O-Train network connects the Airport station, located on Level 3 of the terminal, to the South Keys station. The O-Train (LRT) Airport station is connected to the North end of Level 3 of the terminal. Transit fares can be purchased from the ticket machine located at the South end on Level 1, or outside the transit station on Level 3.

OC Transpo also operates Para Transpo, a door-to-door transportation service for people with disabilities. Advanced registration is required for Para Transpo.

Taxi

There are taxi services available curbside, with a queue forming outside the centre door on Level 1, the "Arrivals" level. Limousine services can also be arranged through local providers, offering a more private and comfortable ride. Uber is the authorised ride-share service at Ottawa Airport, with designated pick-up and drop-off locations outside the Arrivals level.

Shuttle

There are about 15 hotel shuttles at Ottawa airport, including a shuttle service provided by your hotel. The Ottawa shuttle service departs from Level 1 (Arrivals). Private shuttle services are available for group travel or individual bookings and can be arranged in advance through various providers in the Ottawa area.

Rental car

You can pick up a rental car from outside the baggage claim areas.

History

The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, also known as the Ottawa Airport, is located 5.5 nautical miles (or 10 kilometres) south of downtown Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It is Canada's sixth-busiest airport and the second-busiest in Ontario by airline passenger traffic, with 4,606,824 passengers in 2024.

The history of the airport began in the 1920s, when the first landing field was established. Initially known as Hunt Club Field, the site quickly became significant in aviation history. In July 1927, as Canada celebrated its Diamond Jubilee of Confederation, Charles Lindbergh arrived in Ottawa, accompanied by a 12-aircraft escort, and landed at the Hunt Club Field. This marked a tragic event, as Lieutenant Thad Johnson, one of the escort pilots, lost his life during the landing due to a collision with another aircraft. Following this landmark visit, the field was renamed Lindbergh Field to honour Lindbergh's arrival.

The airport consists of two distinct airfields, the north field and the south field, connected by a taxiway. The north field, originally called Uplands, was founded by the Ottawa Flying Club in the late 1920s and was used by Trans-Canada Air Lines, the predecessor of Air Canada. This area was also utilised by No. 2 Service Flying Training School. During World War II, several hangars were constructed on the north field, but they were demolished by the early 2000s. Despite this, the north field remains popular for general aviation, with one runway still in use. The south field, on the other hand, boasts two longer runways designed for jet airliners.

The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport has undergone several developments over the years. In 1959, the terminal building was scheduled to open, but a sonic boom from a United States Air Force F-104 Starfighter during the opening ceremonies caused extensive damage, resulting in a delay until April 1960. In 1997, the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority (OMCIAA) was established, overseeing airport management and initiating projects to meet travel demands and modernise facilities. One notable project was the construction of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility, enhancing passenger convenience.

Terminals and gates

The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) is quite small in size, with just 28 gates across two terminals. The airport is designed to foster a sense of calmness and caters to first-time flyers or those flying with children. The airport also features several art displays from Canadian artists.

The airport has three levels. Level 1 serves as the arrivals area, where you can find the baggage claim, police, Canada border services, information counters, and transportation. Level 2 is home to the departure gates and the airport's administration offices. Level 3 houses check-in, security, and US pre-clearance areas. The observation area on Level 3 is the best spot to watch planes take off and touch down.

The gates at the Ottawa International Airport are designated as follows: Gates 1–6, 11, and 12 are used for US transborder flights. Gates 13–28 are used interchangeably for domestic and international flights. The gates for US transborder flights are located in a separate US pre-clearance area. Most year-round flights departing from Ottawa International Airport are to domestic and US destinations.

The airport offers a wide range of food and shopping options for travellers, including restaurants, cafes, bars, and duty-free shops. Popular food options include Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and Subway. The airport also has a variety of lounges, including the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and the Aspire Salon Lounge, which can be accessed by premium cabin passengers, elite airline status holders, or those with certain credit cards.

Security checkpoints are located at each terminal, with Terminal 1 having two checkpoints and Terminal 2 having one. The airport offers Fast Track lanes at each security checkpoint for passengers who have purchased a Fast Track pass or are members of a qualifying frequent flyer program.

Lounges

Ottawa International Airport has one lounge, the Aspire Salon Lounge. It is accessible to all passengers travelling domestically and internationally, but not to those travelling trans-border. The lounge is open to Priority Pass membership cardholders, subject to availability on the day, and to American Express® Platinum & Centurion cardholders, subject to availability. It is also open to select Air Canada customers and Star Alliance Gold cardholders.

The Aspire Salon Lounge offers a wide variety of complimentary food and beverages, including hot and cold dishes, premium soft drinks, and a range of wines, beers, and spirits. Local flavours such as real maple syrup, St. Alberts Cheese, and locally roasted coffee are also available. The lounge has comfortable seating areas, panoramic airport and runway views, and free and unlimited fast Wi-Fi. It is designed to cater to both business and leisure travellers, with separate areas for dining, working, lounging, and relaxing. Business travellers can book access to a separate business centre on-site for an additional charge, which offers an à la carte food and beverage service.

The standard access time for the lounge is three hours before flight departure, although it is recommended to check the opening and closing times of the lounge. The lounge opens one hour before the first flight of the day and closes thirty minutes before the last flight.

In addition to the Aspire Salon Lounge, there are several other lounges located in airports across Canada, such as the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, which are located in 18 airports across Canada, the United States, and Europe. These lounges offer comfortable seating, new menu options, and additional power outlets. They are accessible to customers travelling in Premium Rouge, eligible Aeroplan Elite Status Members, and Emirates Skywards Gold and Platinum members travelling between Canada and Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Frequently asked questions