Ottawa Flights

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Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (to give it its full title) is located about 10 kilometres south of the city centre on the appropriately named Airport Parkway. This is Canada's 6th busiest airport used by about 4 million passengers and over 160 thousand aircraft each year.

The airport was privatised in 1997 since when it has been extensively modernised with the construction of a new terminal (the second phase of which was completed in 2008) and is regarded as one of the world's best for its facilities and customer service.

Air Canada (along with its offshoot ACJazz) is the aiport's main user providing both domestic and international scheduled services. Several US carriers also operate from here including American Airlines, United and US Airways, along with a handful of smaller domestic companies.

This is quite a pleasant spacious airport with all the necesary facilities such as ATM's, luggage storage, car hire offices, as well as a good selection of shops, restaurants and bars, both airside and landside. Security, immigration and baggage handling are usually swift, friendly and efficient, making for a pleasant passage and I never mind being early for my flights here (or even delayed) as I kinda like hanging around the bars which are never particularly busy, beer is reasonably priced and the landside one does excellent wings!

The airport is served by regular bus services, OCTranspo #97, with a journey time from the city centre of about 20 minutes and there are always plenty of cabs available too.

Air Canada launched a new daily flight to and from Frankfurt, Germany. This way we don't have to travel to Toronto or Montreal to catch a connection flight. Frankfurt is one of the major European hubs, so from there it's easy to hopp on another, smaller flight in order to reach any European, Asian or Mid eastern city. This also made it much easier to fly into Ottawa, without a transfer on an another airport. This was a good idea, Thank you Air Canada!

03-17-08 - The Ottawa Airport is approximately $30 in a cab from down town Ottawa so that is reasonable. I like the Ottawa airport, it is small, easy to navigate and has a new modernistic look and feel to it.

There is generally a fair line going through security and lately there are no liquids permitted through security. This is disappointing in Ottawa because I seen a buster juice franchise but it is outside of security so if you get a drink you have to drink it before you go through security. It would be good on arrival I guess, you would just have to go look for it. Small disappointment, lol.

There is a Tim Horton's both inside and outside security. What else is there about the Ottawa airport? Hmmm. They make a nice use of waterfalls throughout the airport making for a relaxing environment probably helping with air rage I guess?

All round a nice airport.

Ottawa's International Airport is located south of the city. The new terminal which opened last year makes the airport comparable to others throughout the world.

With lots of domestic and international flights the airport is busy year round. The best way to get into the city from the airport is hopping on the OC bus #97. Should get you into downtown in about 30 minutes.

Check the airport website for more information.

For my latest trip to Ottawa I flew CanJet, a "no-frills" airline that services about 10 cities in Eastern Canada. It's similar to other discount airlines within Canada, and I had no complaints about the flight or the service. From Halifax, flying to Ottawa only takes an hour and a half so it's a very short and easy trip to make.
The airport is located about 30 mins. outside downtown Ottawa but is easily accessible from all areas of the city.

For a national capital, MacDonald-Cartier (or just Ottawa International for short) is a small airport! But with construction continuing, and the addition of new terminals coming in a year, that's all going to change very soon.

Until then, Ottawa International is an efficient airport that's easy to get in and out. Daily flights to Toronto, New York, Chicago, Boston and Montreal make Ottawa well serviced. However, because it's a small city, (by Toronto and Chicago standards) it does cost a little bit more to fly in. But if you do have the time and the money, it's always the fastest.

Mass transit links the airport with the surrounding city, and are easy to go get to. Check out OC Transpo for more information. Rental cars companies are also widely available.

Travelling By Air
www.ottawa-airport.ca

Hours to Ottawa International Airport by Air

From Hrs.
==== ====
Boston 1.25
London, Ontario 1.5
Quebec City 1.25
Calgary 4.25
London, UK 7
Raleigh-Durham 1.25
Chicago 2
Sudbury 1.25
Detroit 2.25
New York, La Grda 1.25
Toronto 1
Edmonton 4.25
Newark, New Jsy 1.25
Washington 1.75
Fredericton 2
North Bay 1
Halifax 1.5
Philadelphia 1.75
Winnipeg 2.25
Iqualuit 3.25

Flight times shown are for direct, non-stop flights to Ottawa.

Location:
N45 19 21 W75 40 09 / Elevation 374 feet / UTC-5(4)
10 km / 6.2 miles south of Ottawa city centre

Most people fly into Ottawa airport. Ottawa does have an international airport, but as far as I can tell, the word 'international' means that you'll just connect in Toronto. Maybe they do have flights to go directly to Europe, but I haven't seen them yet.
Getting around Ottawa is a breeze. The public bus system in Ottawa is very good. Although it does not have a subway, most of the busses have their own road (Called the transitway).. Catch the #95 or the #97 (the 97 will take you from the airport directly downtown) and you're on the transitway. Stop by the Rideau Center downtown and get a few bus tickets (it's cheaper than paying cash), and you'll be set.

There are also many double decker busses that do tours of Ottawa. Try and get on one of those!