Ottawa International Airport is Canada’s 5th busiest aviation hub severing Ottawa, Gatineau and the National Capital Region (Eastern Ontario and Western Québec). YOW is a major hub for Porter Airlines. All major cities in Canada and the U.S. Northeast are served by YOW.
Located 15km (9.2 mi) and south of downtown Ottawa, several options allow travellers to reach the city centre. There is a direct air rail line to downtown Ottawa.
Good to know …
Terminal information
Terminal
- Modern, airy terminal with a short walk to amenities.
- Hosts domestic, international, and U.S. flights under one roof.
- U.S. bound flights are separated after preclearance.
Notes
- Domestic and International (U.S. excluded) departure gates are mixed mixed together.
Pros
- YOW’s compact, easy-to-navigate terminal means a short walking distance between areas.
- Less overwhelming compared to larger airports such as Montréal (YUL) or Toronto (YYZ).
- Year around international flights to London and Paris are very convenient options to reach Europe directly.
- U.S. preclearance means a smoother trip for travellers heading to the states.
- Strong connections to Western and Eastern Canada.
- Multitude of flights to sun and Caribbean destinations.
- Less overwhelming than other major aviation hubs.
Cons
- Limited long-haul network.
- Far fewer destinations compared to larger airports such as Montréal (YUL) or Toronto (YYZ).
- Many routes are seasonal.
- Transit to downtown requires changing trains three times (Line 4 > Line 2 > Line 1/3. There is no direct O-Train.
Notes
- Overall, Ottawa International Airport is great for those looking to skip larger hubs and travel direct to their destination. U.S. Preclearance means arriving as a precleared passenger.
