4/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“The facilities are clean, the layout is simple, and it’s very easy to find the gates without confusion.”
Sam Mohr5★ on Google
Airports / Canada / YOW
Large airport · YOW
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
Ottawa, Canada · 374 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
4.2/5
Google rating
5,340 ratings
1
Operators based
374
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Ottawa, CanadaELEV 374 FTLarge airportScheduled service
4.2
Google rating
5,340
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
Based operators
charter operators on the field
374
Field elevation
feet above sea level
8
Nearest alternate
nm to YRO
Field standing
8 nm
To the nearest alternate
Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport (YRO), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (CYOW / YOW) is a large commercial airport serving Ottawa, Canada. Field elevation is 374 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
For charter flyers, YOW is a home base: ExpressAir Charter operates from the field. The closest alternate fields are Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport (YRO, 8 nm), Ottawa / Gatineau Airport (YND, 13 nm), and Ottawa / Carp Airport (CYRP, 15 nm). The field has 3 runways, the longest 10,000-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from YOW are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Uplands and UUP. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from YOW to plan your flight.
Run an FBO at CYOW? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“The facilities are clean, the layout is simple, and it’s very easy to find the gates without confusion.”
Sam Mohr5★ on Google
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“The staff are friendly and helpful, which makes the travel experience smooth and pleasant.”
Sam Mohr5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
CYOW
IATA
YOW
FAA / Local
YOW
Elevation
374 ft
Coordinates
45.3225° N · 75.6692° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Canada fields
state range 6–3,940 ft
At 374 ft, YOW sits lower than 69% of the 251 Canada fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 10,000 ft
- 14/3210,000 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
- 07/258,000 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
- 04/223,300 ft × 75 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,000 ft
YOW's 10,000 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators1
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 8nmYROOttawa / Rockcliffe AirportOttawa
- 13nmYNDOttawa / Gatineau AirportGatineau
- 15nmCYRPOttawa / Carp AirportOttawa
- 25nmYSHSmiths Falls-Montague (Russ Beach) AirportSmiths Falls
- 39nmOGSOgdensburg International AirportOgdensburg
- 42nmMSSMassena International Airport Richards FieldMassena
Location
Open the full mapCYOW · Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport · Ottawa, Canada
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from YOW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 255 nm | 1h 0m |
| New York (TEB) | 278 nm | 1h 3m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 391 nm | 1h 19m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 567 nm | 1h 43m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 744 nm | 2h 8m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 1,139 nm | 3h 3m |
| Miami (MIA) | 1,194 nm | 3h 11m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 1,233 nm | 3h 16m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use YOW?
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport's longest paved runway is 10,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at YOW?
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 10,000 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at YOW?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport as a home base, including ExpressAir Charter. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to YOW?
- The closest alternate is Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport (YRO), about 8 nm away, followed by Ottawa / Gatineau Airport (YND) at 13 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from YOW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 1h 0m (255 nm), New York about 1h 3m (278 nm), Washington DC about 1h 19m (391 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.