Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport — Ottawa, Canada

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, coded YOW, anchors air travel for Canada's capital region. The name honors two architects of Confederation, Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier, formally adopted in the early 1990s. Its grounds trace back to a Royal Canadian Air Force station that trained pilots during the Second World War before transitioning fully to civilian use. A single modern terminal, opened in the early 2000s and known for its light-filled, curved design, replaced the original building and now handles domestic routes alongside seasonal transatlantic flights to Europe and winter sun charters. Because Ottawa hosts Parliament, embassies, and federal agencies, the airport carries a steady flow of government and diplomatic travel year-round. Air Canada maintains a significant presence, while general aviation and military aircraft continue to share the field, a reminder of its dual civilian-defense heritage.