Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Daylight today(Aug 30, 2026, local time)
About 13h 23m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.
About Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Ottawa/Macdonald–Cartier International Airport or simply Ottawa International Airport is the main international airport serving the National Capital Region of Canada which contains the cities of Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. Located 8 nautical miles south of downtown Ottawa in the south end of the city, it is Canada's sixth-busiest airport, Ontario's second-busiest airport by airline passenger traffic, with 4,866,236 passengers in 2025. The airport is a major hub for Porter Airlines, a focus city for Air Canada and Air Transat and a home base for Canadian North. The airport is named after the Canadian statesmen and two of the "founding fathers of Canada", Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
Live weather
CYOWNOTAMs
CYOWReference only — not an official briefing. Always obtain a certified briefing (e.g. 1800wxbrief.com / your AIS) before flight.
NOTAM data via the FAA NOTAM system.
Live departures & arrivals
Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.
Where you can fly from here
Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.
Live traffic nearby
Aircraft currently within ~40 nm, from live ADS-B. Positions are approximately real-time — not for navigation.
Live ADS-B by adsb.lol & the OpenSky Network. Not for navigation.
Map
Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.
Runways (3)
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 / 32 | 10,000 ft / 3,048 m | 200 ft | Asp | Lighted | Open |
| 07 / 25 | 8,000 ft / 2,438 m | 200 ft | Asp | Lighted | Open |
| 04 / 22▸ displaced | 3,300 ft / 1,006 m | 75 ft | Asp | Unlit | Open |
Radio frequencies (9)
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| ARR | Ottawa Arrivals | 135.150 MHz |
| ATIS | French ATIS | 132.950 MHz |
| ATIS | English ATIS | 121.150 MHz |
| CLNC DEL | Ottawa Clearance | 119.400 MHz |
| DEP | Ottawa Departures | 128.175 MHz |
| GND | Ottawa Ground | 121.900 MHz |
| RCO | Quebec Radio | 123.150 MHz |
| TML | Ottawa Terminal | 127.700 MHz |
| TWR | Ottawa Tower | 118.800 MHz |
Services & operations
The airport offers several parking options and ground transportation services.
From the airport’s official website — details may change, so confirm with the airport. Official site
Navaids(4)
Airlines & destinations
Route data from OpenFlights — historical and may be out of date. Check current schedules.
Airspace in this area(14)
| Name | Class | Type | Floor | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTTAWA, ON TCA | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| MONTREAL FIR CAE | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| T781 AIRWAY | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| T749 AIRWAY | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| T680 AIRWAY | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| T616 AIRWAY | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| T614 AIRWAY | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| OTTAWA, ON CAE | Class B | Controlled | 12500 ft MSL | 18000 ft MSL |
| OTTAWA/MACDONALD-CARTIER INTL CZ | Class C | Controlled | 2000 ft MSL | 3000 ft MSL |
| OTTAWA, ON TCA | Class C | Controlled | 5000 ft MSL | 12500 ft MSL |
| OTTAWA, ON TCA | Class C | Controlled | 4000 ft MSL | 5000 ft MSL |
| OTTAWA, ON TCA | Class C | Controlled | 3000 ft MSL | 4000 ft MSL |
| OTTAWA, ON TCA | Class C | Controlled | 2500 ft MSL | 3000 ft MSL |
| OTTAWA, ON TCA | Class C | Controlled | 1500 ft MSL | 2500 ft MSL |
Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all Canada airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.
Weather by month
Share of VFR / marginal-VFR / IFR / low-IFR conditions by month over the last 8 years, with the prevailing wind and typical density altitude. Historical climatology — not a forecast.
Prevailing wind: W (from about 270°), on 11% of observations, averaging 10 kt.
| Month | VFR / MVFR / IFR / LIFR | % VFR | Median DA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51% | -2,286 ft | |
| Feb | 64% | -2,152 ft | |
| Mar | 66% | -1,396 ft | |
| Apr | 69% | -637 ft | |
| May | 80% | 205 ft | |
| Jun | 80% | 964 ft | |
| Jul | 85% | 1,281 ft | |
| Aug | 80% | 1,067 ft | |
| Sep | 82% | 465 ft | |
| Oct | 75% | -315 ft | |
| Nov | 64% | -1,206 ft | |
| Dec | 49% | -1,829 ft |
VFR MVFR IFR LIFR· density altitude ranges ~-2,286–1,281 ft through the year· Source: NWS/IEM ASOS archive.
Tall obstacles nearby
| Obstacle | Height AGL | Top (MSL) | Lit |
|---|---|---|---|
| R.H. Coats Building | 325 ft | 197 ft | — |
| Peace Tower | 302 ft | 305 ft | — |
| Envie | 279 ft | 289 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 276 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 289 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 315 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 322 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 171 ft | — |
Tallest obstacles within ~10 nm. Data via OpenAIP. Reference only — consult official charts.
Nearby airports
Great-circle distance and true bearing from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICAO code for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport?
The ICAO code for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is CYOW, and its IATA code is YOW.
Where is Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport located?
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is large airport located in Ottawa, Canada, at an elevation of 374 ft (114 m).
How many runways does Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport have?
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport has 3 runways, the longest being 10,000 ft / 3,048 m.
Which airlines fly to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport?
Airlines historically serving Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport include Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight, Air Canada, Air North Charter - Canada, American Airlines, Canadian North, Delta Air Lines, among 13 carriers (based on OpenFlights route data, which may be out of date).
How many destinations are served from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport?
Historical data lists 26 nonstop destinations from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Always check current schedules.
What time zone is Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in?
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is in the America/Toronto time zone (UTC-04:00).
What is the magnetic variation at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport?
The magnetic variation (declination) at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is approximately 12.6° W, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.
What airports are near Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport?
The nearest airport to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is Ottawa / Manotick (Hope Field) (CHF2), about 8.1 nm to the ssw, followed by Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport and Grey's Creek Private Airstrip.
Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?
No. Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.