Translate
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Canada's capital gateway serving Ottawa and the National Capital Region.
- ›Named after Canada's first two Prime Ministers, Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
- ›Located approximately 10 km south of downtown Ottawa.
- ›Operated by the Ottawa International Airport Authority, a non-share capital corporation.
- ›A major terminal expansion and modernization was completed in 2008.
- ›The airport is a key hub for Canadian government and diplomatic travel.
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport has served Canada's national capital since 1928, evolving from a modest airfield into a modern international hub. Named after two of Canada's founding fathers, it handles millions of passengers annually and connects Ottawa to destinations across North America and beyond. Its central role in government travel and growing leisure traffic makes it one of Canada's most strategically significant mid-sized airports.
- Terminal A (Main Terminal) — The single integrated passenger terminal handling all domestic, transborder, and international departures and arrivals under one roof.
- OC Transpo Route 97 bus connects the airport to downtown Ottawa and the Tremblay LRT Station
- Ottawa O-Train Line 1 (Confederation Line) accessible via connecting bus to Tremblay Station
- Taxis and rideshares (Uber, Lyft) available at the designated pickup zone outside Arrivals
- Car rental agencies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National on-site
- Hotel shuttles offered by several nearby properties upon request
- Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa Airport
- Sheraton Ottawa Hotel
- Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market
- Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport
- Marriott Ottawa
Inside the terminal, travellers will find a mix of national chains and local concepts including Tim Hortons, various grab-and-go options, and sit-down restaurants airside. The dining selection expands post-security with options suited to early morning departures and longer layovers. For a broader range of Ottawa cuisine, the ByWard Market neighbourhood downtown is roughly 20 minutes away and offers everything from poutine to fine dining.
- Arrive at least 90 minutes early for domestic flights and 2 hours for US or international departures, especially during peak government travel periods.
- The NEXUS lane at US pre-clearance can significantly speed up border processing if you are an enrolled member.
- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal — connect to the YOW airport network without registration.
- Parking fills quickly during weekday mornings; book the covered Parkade online in advance for guaranteed space and slight savings.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Route map (26 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.
IndianAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.
City & Place Guide
No guide exists for this place yet — Click to generate a Traveler Pulse guide.
Passport, Visa & Immigration
Flying internationally via YOW? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Canada from official government sources.
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.
Read full article on Wikipedia