Ottawa airport guide
Ottawa (YOW)
wait times and airport guide
Check live security wait times, see how often customs met its service standard, and get travel tips for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). Plan your trip and find vacation packages that depart from Ottawa.
Live wait times
Security and customs
Customs data
Service levels by month
Travel tips
Before you fly from YOW
Vacation packages
Deals from Ottawa
Live security wait times at Ottawa
Published by CATSA, refreshed about every two minutes
TripRadr links to the latest security wait times from CATSA for each checkpoint at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Times are estimates, can change throughout the day, and exclude check-in, bag drop and the walk to your gate.
- Live updates from CATSA, about every 2 minutes
- Lists the wait for each checkpoint
Customs on arrival at Ottawa
The CBSA publishes how often it meets its customs service standard at each airport, and how many delays went past 20 minutes. It does not publish average wait times. The figures are monthly, and the seasonal averages use April 2022 onward.
Ottawa arrivals
October 2025
100%
of the time the standard was met
October 2025
0
delays past 20 minutes
Weakest month (avg.)
April
99.90% met, about 0.8 delays
| Month | Share of time standard met | Average delays past 20 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| January | 100% | 0.0 |
| February | 100% | 0.0 |
| March | 100% | 0.0 |
| April | 99.90% | 0.8 |
| May | 100% | 0.0 |
| June | 100% | 0.0 |
| July | 100% | 0.0 |
| August | 100% | 0.0 |
| September | 100% | 0.0 |
| October | 100% | 0.0 |
| November | 100% | 0.0 |
| December | 100% | 0.0 |
Source: CBSA, Border Wait Times: Air Mode (Open Government Licence - Canada). Data runs to October 2025 for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW). Long-run averages, not a forecast for your flight. Last checked October 31, 2026.
Travel tips for a smoother YOW experience
Arrive early
Follow your airline's advice on arrival time.
Have your documents ready
Keep your ID or passport accessible.
Know your baggage limits
Check your airline's carry-on and checked bag policies.
Flying from Ottawa
See vacation packages from Ottawa compared across Canadian travel sites in CAD.
Packages from OttawaAirport address
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
1000 Airport Parkway PrivateOttawa, ON K1V 9B4
Canada
Other Canadian airports
Ottawa airport: common questions
Where can I check live security wait times at Ottawa (YOW)?
CATSA, the agency that runs security screening, publishes live wait times for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport by checkpoint on its airport page. The times come from boarding-pass scans taken when you enter the queue and again just before individual screening, and the page refreshes about every two minutes. The airport's own website also links to them.
What do the YOW security wait times include?
They cover the time in the screening queue only. CATSA says the figures exclude check-in, bag drop, the time spent being screened, US customs where it applies, and the walk to your gate. The times are for convenience, can change at any moment and are not guaranteed.
How long are customs lines at Ottawa when you arrive?
The CBSA publishes how often it meets its customs service standard at each airport rather than wait minutes. In October 2025 it met the standard 100% of the time, with 0 delays that went past 20 minutes. Individual flights can still be slower at busy times.
Which month has the most customs delays at YOW?
Since April 2022, April has had the lowest average share of time meeting the CBSA standard at Ottawa, at 99.9% with an average of 0.8 delays past 20 minutes. Months with more arriving flights tend to be busier, but this is a long-run average and not a forecast.
How early should I arrive at Ottawa for my flight?
Your airline sets the recommended check-in and arrival time, so follow what it tells you for your flight. Check the live CATSA wait times before you leave for the airport, and allow extra time on peak days such as holiday weekends and school breaks.
What is the address of Ottawa (YOW)?
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is at 1000 Airport Parkway Private, Ottawa, ON K1V 9B4. Use it for rides and directions. Check the airport's website before you travel in case it has changed.
Can I compare vacation packages that depart from Ottawa?
Yes. TripRadr compares the same vacation package across Canadian travel sites for departures from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW), priced in CAD, and you book on the travel site you choose. TripRadr does not take bookings.
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