# Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW / CYOW)

**Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport** (IATA: YOW, ICAO: CYOW) is a large airport in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It opened on 20 Aug 1938. It has 3 runways; the longest is 3,048 m (10,000 ft). In 2024 it handled 4.5 million passengers.

Web page: https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyow

## At a glance

- IATA / ICAO: YOW / CYOW
- Type: Large airport
- Owner: Transport Canada
- Serves: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Opened: 20 Aug 1938 (Wikipedia)
- Elevation: 114 m / 374 ft
- Coordinates: 45.3225, -75.6692
- Runways: 3
- Longest runway: 3,048 m / 10,000 ft
- Passengers: 4,509,385 (2024)
- Time zone: UTC-5/-4 · America/Toronto
- Website: https://yow.ca/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_Macdonald%E2%80%93Cartier_International_Airport (28 languages)
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1319833
- Weather station: CYOW · WMO 71628
- Ident: CYOW

## Timeline

- 20 Aug 1938: Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport opens.

## Runways

| Ident | Length | Width | Surface | True headings | Lighted |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 14/32 | 3,048 m / 10,000 ft | 61 m / 200 ft | Asphalt | 126° / 306° | yes |
| 07/25 | 2,438 m / 8,000 ft | 61 m / 200 ft | Asphalt | 057° / 237° | yes |
| 04/22 | 1,006 m / 3,300 ft | 23 m / 75 ft | Asphalt | 026° / 206° |  |

## Passengers per year

| Year | Passengers | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2013 | 4,578,591 | Wikidata |
| 2014 | 4,616,448 | Wikidata |
| 2015 | 4,656,360 | Wikidata |
| 2016 | 4,743,091 | Wikidata |
| 2017 | 4,796,525 | Wikidata |
| 2018 | 5,110,801 | Wikidata |
| 2019 | 5,106,487 | Wikidata |
| 2020 | 1,363,512 | Wikidata |
| 2021 | 1,170,789 | Wikidata |
| 2022 | 2,992,334 | Wikidata |
| 2023 | 3,989,622 | Wikidata |
| 2024 | 4,509,385 | Wikidata |

## Routes

54 destinations in 12 countries. From the airport's Wikipedia article.

### Year-round (32)

- [YUL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyul.md) Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport · Canada · 151 km / 94 mi · Air Canada, Propair
- [YTZ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cytz.md) Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport · Canada · 351 km / 218 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YYZ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyyz.md) Toronto Pearson International Airport · Canada · 363 km / 226 mi · WestJet, Porter Airlines, Air Canada
- [YQB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyqb.md) Quebec Jean Lesage International Airport · Canada · 368 km / 229 mi · Propair
- [YHM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyhm.md) John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport · Canada · 415 km / 258 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YSB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cysb.md) Sudbury Airport · Canada · 422 km / 262 mi · Propair
- [BOS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kbos.md) Boston Logan International Airport · United States · 498 km / 309 mi · Porter Airlines
- [EWR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kewr.md) Newark Liberty International Airport · United States · 529 km / 329 mi · United Express, Porter Airlines
- [YQG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyqg.md) Windsor International Airport · Canada · 675 km / 419 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YFC](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyfc.md) Fredericton International Airport · Canada · 713 km / 443 mi · Porter Airlines
- [IAD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kiad.md) Washington Dulles International Airport · United States · 724 km / 450 mi · United Express
- [YQM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyqm.md) Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport · Canada · 857 km / 533 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YHZ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyhz.md) Halifax / Stanfield International Airport · Canada · 955 km / 593 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YYG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyyg.md) Charlottetown Airport · Canada · 977 km / 607 mi · Porter Airlines
- [ORD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kord.md) Chicago O'Hare International Airport · United States · 1,051 km / 653 mi · United Express
- [YQT](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyqt.md) Thunder Bay International Airport · Canada · 1,091 km / 678 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YVP](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyvp.md) Kuujjuaq Airport · Canada · 1,503 km / 934 mi · Canadian North
- [YWG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cywg.md) Winnipeg / James Armstrong Richardson International Airport · Canada · 1,689 km / 1,049 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YYT](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyyt.md) St. John's International Airport · Canada · 1,767 km / 1,098 mi · Porter Airlines
- [MCO](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kmco.md) Orlando International Airport · United States · 1,943 km / 1,207 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YFB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyfb.md) Iqaluit Airport · Canada · 2,097 km / 1,303 mi · Canadian North
- [FLL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kfll.md) Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport · United States · 2,178 km / 1,353 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YRT](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyrt.md) Rankin Inlet Airport · Canada · 2,206 km / 1,371 mi · Canadian North
- [YEG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyeg.md) Edmonton International Airport · Canada · 2,849 km / 1,770 mi · WestJet, Porter Airlines
- [YYC](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyyc.md) Calgary International Airport · Canada · 2,878 km / 1,788 mi · WestJet, Porter Airlines, Air Canada
- [CUN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mmun.md) Cancún International Airport · Mexico · 2,888 km / 1,795 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YZF](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyzf.md) Yellowknife International Airport · Canada · 3,100 km / 1,926 mi · Canadian North
- [YLW](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cylw.md) Kelowna International Airport · Canada · 3,267 km / 2,030 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YVR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyvr.md) Vancouver International Airport · Canada · 3,552 km / 2,207 mi · Porter Airlines, Air Canada
- [YYJ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyyj.md) Victoria International Airport · Canada · 3,582 km / 2,226 mi · Porter Airlines
- [LHR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/egll.md) London Heathrow Airport · United Kingdom · 5,346 km / 3,322 mi · Air Canada
- [CDG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/lfpg.md) Charles de Gaulle International Airport · France · 5,658 km / 3,516 mi · Air France

### Seasonal (24)

- [YUL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyul.md) Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport · Canada · 151 km / 94 mi · Air Transat
- [ORD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kord.md) Chicago O'Hare International Airport · United States · 1,051 km / 653 mi · United Airlines
- [YDF](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cydf.md) Deer Lake Airport · Canada · 1,441 km / 895 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YWG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cywg.md) Winnipeg / James Armstrong Richardson International Airport · Canada · 1,689 km / 1,049 mi · WestJet
- [MCO](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kmco.md) Orlando International Airport · United States · 1,943 km / 1,207 mi · Air Canada
- [TPA](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ktpa.md) Tampa International Airport · United States · 2,022 km / 1,256 mi · Porter Airlines
- [RSW](https://dromopedia.com/airports/krsw.md) Southwest Florida International Airport · United States · 2,158 km / 1,341 mi · Porter Airlines
- [FLL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kfll.md) Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport · United States · 2,178 km / 1,353 mi · Air Canada
- [MIA](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kmia.md) Miami International Airport · United States · 2,210 km / 1,373 mi · Porter Airlines
- [NAS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mynn.md) Lynden Pindling International Airport · Bahamas · 2,261 km / 1,405 mi · Porter Airlines, Air Canada
- [PLS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mbpv.md) Providenciales International Airport · Turks & Caicos Islands · 2,637 km / 1,639 mi · Porter Airlines
- [POP](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mdpp.md) Gregorio Luperon International Airport · Dominican Republic · 2,881 km / 1,790 mi · Air Transat
- [CUN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mmun.md) Cancún International Airport · Mexico · 2,888 km / 1,795 mi · WestJet, Air Canada, Air Transat
- [GCM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mwcr.md) Owen Roberts International Airport · Cayman Islands · 2,941 km / 1,827 mi · Porter Airlines
- [MBJ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mkjs.md) Sangster International Airport · Jamaica · 2,989 km / 1,857 mi · WestJet, Porter Airlines, Air Canada
- [PUJ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mdpc.md) Punta Cana International Airport · Dominican Republic · 3,051 km / 1,896 mi · WestJet, Air Canada, Air Transat
- [YZF](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyzf.md) Yellowknife International Airport · Canada · 3,100 km / 1,926 mi · Air North
- [PHX](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kphx.md) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport · United States · 3,356 km / 2,085 mi · Porter Airlines
- [AUA](https://dromopedia.com/airports/tnca.md) Queen Beatrix International Airport · Aruba · 3,689 km / 2,292 mi · Porter Airlines
- [PVR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mmpr.md) Puerto Vallarta International Airport · Mexico · 3,847 km / 2,390 mi · WestJet, Porter Airlines
- [SJD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mmsd.md) Los Cabos International Airport · Mexico · 3,935 km / 2,445 mi · Porter Airlines
- [LIR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/mrlb.md) Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport · Costa Rica · 3,975 km / 2,470 mi · Porter Airlines
- [YXY](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyxy.md) Whitehorse / Erik Nielsen International Airport · Canada · 4,150 km / 2,579 mi · Air North
- [LGW](https://dromopedia.com/airports/egkk.md) London Gatwick Airport · United Kingdom · 5,378 km / 3,342 mi · Air Transat

### Cargo (7)

- [YMX](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cymx.md) Montreal Mirabel International Airport · Canada · 133 km / 83 mi · FedEx Express
- [BUF](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kbuf.md) Buffalo Niagara International Airport · United States · 360 km / 224 mi · FedEx Express
- [YHM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyhm.md) John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport · Canada · 415 km / 258 mi · Cargojet
- [JFK](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kjfk.md) John F. Kennedy International Airport · United States · 543 km / 337 mi · FedEx Express
- [IND](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kind.md) Indianapolis International Airport · United States · 1,069 km / 664 mi · FedEx Express
- [MEM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kmem.md) Frederick W. Smith International Airport · United States · 1,664 km / 1,034 mi · FedEx Express
- [YFB](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyfb.md) Iqaluit Airport · Canada · 2,097 km / 1,303 mi · Canadian North, Cargojet

## Airlines

The figure is how many destinations each airline flies from YOW, as the routes above have them. Hubs from Wikidata.

### Passenger (10)

- PD [Porter Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/porter-airlines) · 34
- AC [Air Canada](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-canada) · 11
- WS [WestJet](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/westjet) · 8
- TS [Air Transat](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-transat) · 5 · seasonal
- 5T [Canadian North](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/canadian-north) · 4
- PRO [Propair](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/propair) · 3
- UA [United Express](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/united-express) · 3
- 4N [Air North](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-north) · 2 · seasonal
- AF [Air France](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-france) · 1
- UA [United Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/united-airlines) · 1 · seasonal

### Cargo (2)

- FX [FedEx Express](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/fedex-express) · 5
- W8 [Cargojet](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/cargojet) · 2

## Rankings

Ranked among 48,075 open airports; = marks a shared place.

| Measure | Value | World | Region | Country |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Passengers | 4.5M (2024) | #356 of 3,974 | #86 in North America | #6 in CA |
| Longest runway | 3,048 m / 10,000 ft | =1,058 of 29,858 | =243 in North America | =16 in CA |
| Elevation | 114 m / 374 ft | =29,607 of 43,403 | =13,865 in North America | #1,131 in CA |
| Age | Opened 1938 | =870 of 15,079 | =246 in North America | =13 in CA |
| Runways | 3 | =151 of 29,978 | =83 in North America | =4 in CA |

## Radio frequencies

| Type | Description | MHz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ARR | Ottawa Arrivals | 135.150 |
| ATIS | English ATIS | 121.150 |
| CLNC DEL | Ottawa Clearance | 119.400 |
| DEP | Ottawa Departures | 128.175 |
| GND | Ottawa Ground | 121.900 |
| RCO | Quebec Radio | 123.150 |
| TWR | Ottawa Tower | 118.800 |
| ATIS | French ATIS | 132.950 |
| TML | Ottawa Terminal | 127.700 |

## Nearby airports

- [YRO](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyro.md) Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport · 15 km / 9.6 mi
- [YND](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cynd.md) Ottawa / Gatineau Airport · 24 km / 15 mi
- [CYRP](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyrp.md) Ottawa / Carp Airport · 28 km / 17 mi
- [YSH](https://dromopedia.com/airports/cysh.md) Smiths Falls-Montague (Russ Beach) Airport · 47 km / 29 mi
- [OGS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kogs.md) Ogdensburg International Airport · 73 km / 45 mi
- [MSS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/kmss.md) Massena International Airport Richards Field · 78 km / 48 mi

## Sources

- [NOAA Aviation Weather Center](https://aviationweather.gov/data/api/): Weather data: NOAA Aviation Weather Center (Public Domain (US Government))
- [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/): Airport data from OurAirports (Public Domain)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org): Structured data from Wikidata (CC0 1.0)
- [Wikipedia: “Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport”](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ottawa_Macdonald–Cartier_International_Airport&oldid=1376364521), revision of 23 Sep 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- [timezone-boundary-builder](https://github.com/evansiroky/timezone-boundary-builder): Time zone boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors, timezone-boundary-builder (ODbL 1.0)
- Every figure with its source: https://dromopedia.com/airports/cyow/data