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Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (IATA code: YOW) is the main gateway to Canada’s federal capital. Every year, more than 4 million passengers pass through for domestic, transborder and international flights. This guide covers the terminal, the lounges, parking, ground transportation and American preclearance.
Since January 2025, YOW also has its own light rail station, which changes how you reach downtown entirely. To get the most out of every trip, see our picks for the best travel credit cards in Canada.
The airport sits about 14 km south of downtown, at 1000 Airport Parkway. A single terminal handles every flight. That layout keeps things simple: no inter-terminal shuttle and no long walks between gates.
Wi-Fi is free throughout the terminal. Just connect and accept the terms of use.
The single terminal spreads across three levels. That vertical layout makes finding your way straightforward.
Gates are split by destination, which reflects the physical separation between flights to the United States and everything else.
Four options connect YOW to downtown Ottawa, 14 km away. Since 2025, the train joins the bus, the taxi and the car.
Line 4 links Airport station, built into the terminal at the departures level, to South Keys station in 8 minutes. This 4 km branch has three stations: Airport, Uplands and South Keys.
Route 97 still serves the airport and complements the train, particularly when the latter is not running. During regular hours it terminates at Hurdman East station, where connections lead downtown. Early morning and late evening, the service continues through to Rideau station.
One catch: route 97 does not run between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Plan on a taxi for that window. The fare matches the train at $4.10 a ride, and OC Transpo’s fare cap makes trips free after 34 taps in a month.
Eight agencies sit in the Parkade (P1): Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Routes and Thrifty. Pay with a credit card that includes collision coverage to skip the counter’s insurance.
YOW runs two paid lots and one free waiting area. The offering is simpler than Montreal’s or Toronto’s, and the rates stay among the lowest at major Canadian airports.
For drop-off, use the elevated roadway on Level 3, in front of the check-in counters. For pickup, head to the arrivals curb on the lower roadway, between pillars 1 and 3. The curbs are for active loading only: an unattended vehicle will be towed.
Our guide to saving on airport parking covers Ottawa too, and explains how to cover part of the bill with points.
YOW has two lounges, both near gate 18, in the Canada and International departures zone. The offering is thinner than Toronto’s or Montreal’s, but it covers the essentials for holders of the right cards.
The Aspire Lounge stays open whatever airline or fare class you are flying, which makes it the versatile option at YOW.
YOW has two separate checkpoints on Level 3: one for Canada and International flights, one for flights to the United States. The second includes American preclearance, which sets Ottawa apart from most regional Canadian airports.
Travellers to the United States clear American customs in Ottawa, before departure. They then arrive as if on a domestic American flight, with no line on arrival. The NEXUS processing fee is US$120 for five years, and several travel credit cards reimburse it.
With only two lounges, the card choice comes down to which one you are aiming for. Here are the most relevant options in Ottawa.
Visa Infinite Privilege holders also get the priority security lane at the Canada and International checkpoint, simply by showing the card. To compare everything, see our page on the best credit cards for airport lounges.
About ten airlines serve YOW, flying to Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. Air Canada and WestJet dominate the schedule.
For most other international destinations, a connection in Toronto or Montreal is still required. It therefore pays to cover the whole itinerary in Aeroplan points rather than buying two separate tickets.
Airside, the offering covers the basics: The Prescott for a full meal, Tim Hortons, Subway and Starbucks for a quick stop. On the retail side you will find a duty-free shop, InMotion for electronics accessories and souvenir shops.
For duty-free or overseas purchases, a card with no foreign transaction fee saves you the 2.5 % normally charged on currency transactions.
No hotel sits on the airport grounds itself. Several properties are a few minutes away by car, though, with a free shuttle to the terminal.
To make the most of your nights, see our guides to the best Marriott Bonvoy cards and the best Hilton Honors cards in Canada.
Here are five habits that save time and money in Ottawa.
YOW is compact and easy to move through. Its single terminal keeps things simple, American preclearance speeds up trips south, and the train’s arrival in 2025 solved the old downtown access problem. The direct-flight offering stays thinner than Toronto’s or Montreal’s, but the frequent shuttles to those two hubs make up for it.
To plan the rest of the trip, see our guide on what to do in Ottawa and our Ottawa page, which gathers our hotel, lounge and activity reviews. To get our analysis every week, sign up for our newsletter.
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