Owais Crawford
Ottawa, Canada is served by the Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, which handles all scheduled passenger flights to and from the city. The airport was formerly a military base and is still used by the RCAF's 412 Transport Squadron. It consists of two distinct airfields, with the north field being popular for general aviation and the south field being used for jet airliners. In addition to Macdonald-Cartier, there are several other airports in the Ottawa area, including Gatineau, Carp, Smiths Falls, and Arnprior, which primarily serve general aviation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the main international airport | Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport |
| Other names | Ottawa International Airport, YOW, CYOW |
| Location | 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of downtown Ottawa |
| Airlines | Air Canada, Porter Airlines, Canadian North |
| Awards | Best Airport in North America of the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International, 2nd Best Airport by Size in the 2-5 million passenger category |
| Passenger traffic | 4,606,824 passengers in 2024 |
| Other airports | Gatineau, Carp, Smiths Falls, Arnprior |
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What You'll Learn
- Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport is the main airport serving Ottawa
- It is Canada's sixth-busiest airport and won several awards in 2010 and 2011
- The airport is named after Canadian statesmen and two of the country's founding fathers
- It is located 8 nautical miles (15km) south of downtown Ottawa
- The airport features Canadian artwork, including a sculpture by Warren Carther
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport is the main airport serving Ottawa
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, also known as Ottawa International Airport (IATA: YOW, ICAO: CYOW), is the main airport serving Ottawa, Canada. It is located 8 nautical miles (15 km or 9.2 mi) south of downtown Ottawa in the south end of the city. The airport is named after Canadian statesmen and two of the "founding fathers of Canada", Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport is Canada's sixth-busiest airport and the second-busiest in Ontario by airline passenger traffic, with 4,606,824 passengers in 2024. The airport serves as a hub for Porter Airlines, a focus city for Air Canada, and a home base for Canadian North. It is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency.
The airport was first opened at Uplands, south of Ottawa, by the Ottawa Flying Club, which still operates from the field. During World War II, the airport was known as Uplands and hosted the No. 2 Service Flying Training School for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, providing advanced pilot training in Harvard and Yale aircraft. In 1950, the nearby farming community of Bowesville was expropriated to allow for the southward expansion of the airport. The current main airport terminal stands on the site of the former village crossroads.
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport has received numerous awards and recognition for its excellence. In 2010, it won the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for Best Airport in the World in the 2–5 million passengers category. It also received three Airport Revenue News Best Airport Concessions Awards in the Small Airport division. In 2011, it was recognised as the Best Airport in North America by the Airports Council International's Airport Service Quality Awards.
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It is Canada's sixth-busiest airport and won several awards in 2010 and 2011
The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, or simply Ottawa International Airport, is Canada's sixth busiest airport. It is located 8 nautical miles (approximately 15 km) south of downtown Ottawa. The airport is named after two Canadian statesmen and founding fathers of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier. It is a hub for Porter Airlines, a focus city for Air Canada, and the home base for Canadian North.
The airport is part of Canada's busiest air corridor, connecting Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto, commonly known as the Eastern Triangle. It also serves as a gateway to the eastern Arctic through Iqaluit. In addition to handling scheduled passenger services, the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport accommodates a significant amount of general aviation and some military traffic.
In 2010, the airport won several accolades, including the Ottawa Tourism Award for Tourism Partnership of the Year, which it jointly received with Air Canada. This award recognised the collaborative efforts in promoting Air Canada's non-stop flight route between Frankfurt and Ottawa. Additionally, the airport received three Airport Revenue News Best Airport Concessions Awards in the Small Airport division for its concessions program design, management team, and overall program.
The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport continued its award-winning streak in 2011, claiming the title of Best Airport in North America at the Airport Service Quality Awards, organised by Airports Council International. Furthermore, it was recognised as the second-best airport in the 2 to 5 million passenger category. These awards are a testament to the airport's operational excellence, passenger satisfaction, and continuous improvement.
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The airport is named after Canadian statesmen and two of the country's founding fathers
Ottawa, Canada's capital, is served by the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, also known as Ottawa International Airport. The airport is located 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of downtown Ottawa in the south end of the city. It is named after Canadian statesmen and two of the country's founding fathers, Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
The airport was opened in 1927 at Uplands on a high plateau south of Ottawa by the Ottawa Flying Club, which still operates from the field. During World War II, when it was known as Uplands, the airport hosted No. 2 Service Flying Training School for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, providing advanced pilot training in Harvard and Yale aircraft. In 1950, the nearby farming community of Bowesville was expropriated to allow for a southward expansion of the airport. The current main airport terminal now stands on the site of the former village.
In the late 1950s, as civilian air travel became increasingly popular, Uplands was no longer able to handle the volume of passengers. In response, the Canadian government began construction on a massive expansion project, including a new terminal that was supposed to open in August 1959. To celebrate the opening, a U.S. Air Force Lockheed F-104 Starfighter performed a low fly-by and, at the request of the organisers, went supersonic over the main runway. Unfortunately, this resulted in catastrophic damage to the terminal building, causing windows and parts of the walls to shatter. The terminal was only reopened in 1960, and the airport was renamed "Ottawa International Airport" in 1964.
In 1993, the airport was renamed "Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport" to honour Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier, two important figures in Canada's history. Sir John A. Macdonald was the first Prime Minister of Canada, serving from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 to 1891. He was a key figure in the country's confederation and is often referred to as one of the founding fathers of Canada. Sir George-Étienne Cartier was a French-Canadian politician and statesman who played a significant role in shaping the country. He is known for his contributions to the British North America Act, which created the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
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It is located 8 nautical miles (15km) south of downtown Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada, is served by the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, also known as Ottawa International Airport. It is located 8 nautical miles (15km) south of downtown Ottawa, in the south end of the city. The airport was opened at Uplands, on a high plateau to the south of the city by the Ottawa Flying Club, which still operates from the field. During World War II, the airport was known as Uplands and hosted advanced pilot training for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In 1950, the nearby farming community of Bowesville was expropriated to allow for the airport's southward expansion. The current main terminal stands on the site of the former village's crossroads, and the road to the south still bears the name "Bowesville Road".
The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport is named after two of the "founding fathers of Canada", Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier. 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 airport serves as a hub for Porter Airlines, a focus city for Air Canada, and a home base for Canadian North. It is part of Canada's busiest air corridor, commonly referred to as the Eastern Triangle, connecting Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto.
The airport has won several awards, including the 2010 Ottawa Tourism Award for Tourism Partnership of the Year, which it won jointly with Air Canada. In the same year, it received three Airport Revenue News Best Airport Concessions Awards in the Small Airport division. Additionally, in 2011, it was recognised as the Best Airport in North America by the Airports Council International's Airport Service Quality Awards.
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport features various Canadian artistic and cultural elements. A soothing water feature representing the region's three rivers runs throughout the terminal, and copper and limestone finishes symbolise the capital's Parliament Buildings. Other notable features include an inukshuk sponsored by First Air and a traditional birch bark canoe crafted by an Algonquin leader for the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The airport also showcases a large-scale carved glass sculpture by Canadian artist Warren Carther.
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The airport features Canadian artwork, including a sculpture by Warren Carther
Ottawa, Canada, is served by the Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, also known as Ottawa International Airport. It is Canada's sixth-busiest airport and is located 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of downtown Ottawa. The airport is named after two of the "founding fathers of Canada", Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
The airport terminal's design focuses on creating a calm and easy travel experience for passengers. It also showcases various artwork by commissioned Canadian artists. Among the Canadian artwork featured at the airport is a large-scale carved glass sculpture by Canadian glass artist Warren Carther. Carther is a glass artist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, who is known for his large-scale glass sculptures and innovative approach to his work. He often speaks about his work, public art, and the relationship between glass, art, and architecture.
Carther's artwork at the Ottawa airport is a carved glass sculpture that showcases his creative use of dichromic glass, acid-etching, and abrasive glass carving techniques. This sculpture is part of the terminal's design, which includes a soothing water feature representing the region's three rivers and copper and limestone finishes that honour the capital's Parliament Buildings. The airport also features an inukshuk commissioned by First Air and a rare traditional birch bark canoe built by an Algonquin leader for the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
In addition to its artistic features, the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport has received several accolades. In 2010, it won three Airport Revenue News Best Airport Concessions Awards in the Small Airport division. The following year, it was recognised as the Best Airport in North America by the Airports Council International. The airport has a rich history, having served as a military base during World War II and hosting various aviation events and exhibitions.
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Frequently asked questions
There is one main international airport in Ottawa, Canada, called the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport. However, there are several smaller local airports in the Ottawa area.
The airport codes for the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport are YOW (IATA) and CYOW (ICAO).
The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport is Canada's sixth-busiest airport and Ontario's second-busiest airport. It served 4,606,824 passengers in 2024.
Other airports in the Ottawa area include Gatineau, Carp, Smiths Falls, and Arnprior, which have instrument approaches and winter maintenance for year-round operations.
Yes, the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport has won several awards, including the 2010 Ottawa Tourism Award for Tourism Partnership of the Year and three Airport Revenue News Best Airport Concessions Awards in the Small Airport division.
