Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW)

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 59

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 9

Today's cancellation count (so far): 23

Yesterday's cancellation count ended up being 23.

So far no YYZ widebody upgauges. UA/Go Jet will ferry/reposition a CR5 from RIC to YOW later today: https://www.flightaware.com/live/fli...100Z/CYOW/KRIC

I also see a week ago Friday AC 345 was operated by a 223, while the following day it was on a 321: https://www.flightaware.com/live/fli...300Z/CYOW/CYVR

[Dominion301]

Now I understand why there’s been so many cancellations to Toronto. While we got a mere 14 cm, YYZ received 46 cm and downtown near YTZ recorded 56 cm! Both of those are single day totals so grand totals are probably more like 50 at YYZ and 60 at YTZ. The GTA got hammered by lake effect snow way more than predicted.

This is one of these rare times where Toronto has more snow on the ground than Ottawa…but we’ve got more than enough ourselves lol.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

That's pretty cool! Looks to be a 319 loaded for about a month from mid-May until mid-June, with an evening arrival, RON then early morning departure.

First outbound is 21MAY26 and is the RON until 24JUN26.

UA 1504 ORD-YOW 1823-2136
UA 2849 YOW-ORD 0615-0735

Strangely the 20MAY26 inbound RON is still showing as an E75.

Also around the same time, not only is YOW-IAD getting increased to 4x daily, but 2 of the 4 departures are getting upgauges to E75s.

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 68

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 9

Today's cancellation count (so far): 4 - including WS to HOG and AF 327!

Yesterday's cancellation count ended up being 25.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Today’s departure count: 68

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 9

Today's cancellation count (so far): 4 - including WS to HOG and AF 327!

Yesterday's cancellation count ended up being 25.

That would be weird as the AF328 inbound is on time. Maybe you read something wrong - wouldn't put it passed you since you do this daily!

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

First outbound is 21MAY26 and is the RON until 24JUN26.

UA 1504 ORD-YOW 1823-2136
UA 2849 YOW-ORD 0615-0735

Strangely the 20MAY26 inbound RON is still showing as an E75.

Also around the same time, not only is YOW-IAD getting increased to 4x daily, but 2 of the 4 departures are getting upgauges to E75s.

Well that is awesome to see mainline UA in town. Hopefully it extends passed June 24 and through August.
When you post the TB numbers, it always seems like ORD does well. It's a great connecting point and I know numerous people who fly it to connect onwards to intra-USA and Star A partners to Asia.

IAD is a great connecting point and has decent O&D from YOW. When I connected via IAD last year for a trip, I also saw EWR as an option but it was more $ and a longer layover as well, so I chose IAD. A 97 minutes connection, with a change in terminal and I could still grab a pint before I boarded.

[YOWflier]

Perhaps the most important aspect of UA mainline vs regional (actually, any mainline vs regional) is the IRROPS protection. When a snowflake or rain drop hits the ground at ORD, the first flights to get held up or axed are the regionals. Mainline flights are prioritized. Hopefully this is the beginning of more regular mainline options on UA.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by MountainView

That would be weird as the AF328 inbound is on time. Maybe you read something wrong - wouldn't put it passed you since you do this daily!

Could be that my eyeglass wearing eyes did deceive me lol, but I could've sworn these two on the FIDS were the other way around earlier today:

17 h 11 Chicago (ORD) United Airlines UAL3659 5 Annulé
17 h 20 Paris (CDG) Air France AFR327 15 À l’heure

Thanks for clearing that up. Certainly the ORD flight getting cancelled is a lot more manageable than AF.

[RomanR27]

Thought I'd take an early peek at the summer departure count based on what has been loaded, with the caveat that this assumes the WS changes to the early summer schedule also apply to the peak summer. This is choosing a Friday since that is when PD has both an MCO and CUN flight, but no reductions on the other routes. Since LGW operates that day, there is also a TS departure to YUL. So 93 appears to be the current benchmark, which is lower than what I believe we'll peak at around March Break for the winter schedule (closer to 100).

16x YYZ (10x AC, 4x PD and 2x WS)
11x YTZ (6x AC, 5x PD)
9x YUL (8x AC, 1x TS)
7x YHZ (4x PD, 3x AC)
7x YVR (4x AC, 2x PD, 1x WS)
6x YYC (3x WS*, 2x PD, 1x AC)
5x EWR (3x UA, 2x PD)
4x YWG (2x PD, 1x AC, 1x WS)
4x IAD
3x YEG (2x PD, 1x WS**)
3x YFC (2x PD, 1x AC)
3x ORD
2x YQM (1x PD, 1x AC)
2x YFB
1x YQT/YYG/YYT/YYJ/BOS/MCO/CUN (PD)
1x YQB/DCA (AC)
1x CDG
1x LGW

* Assumes WS will reduce YYC to 3x daily in summer peak
** Assumes WS will reduce YEG to daily in summer peak

[RomanR27]

Saw a Facebook post that a small GA plane slid off runway 32 (I can't link the post without it being linked to my profile but there are pictures on the post). There is a NOTAM that 14/32 is closed until tomorrow.

AC889 is 7/20 J and 13/21 PY. Tonight's AC888 is 15/20 J and 17/21 PY.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Thought I'd take an early peek at the summer departure count based on what has been loaded, with the caveat that this assumes the WS changes to the early summer schedule also apply to the peak summer. This is choosing a Friday since that is when PD has both an MCO and CUN flight, but no reductions on the other routes. Since LGW operates that day, there is also a TS departure to YUL. So 93 appears to be the current benchmark, which is lower than what I believe we'll peak at around March Break for the winter schedule (closer to 100).

16x YYZ (10x AC, 4x PD and 2x WS)
11x YTZ (6x AC, 5x PD)
9x YUL (8x AC, 1x TS)
7x YHZ (4x PD, 3x AC)
7x YVR (4x AC, 2x PD, 1x WS)
6x YYC (3x WS*, 2x PD, 1x AC)
5x EWR (3x UA, 2x PD)
4x YWG (2x PD, 1x AC, 1x WS)
4x IAD
3x YEG (2x PD, 1x WS**)
3x YFC (2x PD, 1x AC)
3x ORD
2x YQM (1x PD, 1x AC)
2x YFB
1x YQT/YYG/YYT/YYJ/BOS/MCO/CUN (PD)
1x YQB/DCA (AC)
1x CDG
1x LGW

* Assumes WS will reduce YYC to 3x daily in summer peak
** Assumes WS will reduce YEG to daily in summer peak

I had a PD ad pop up advertising YOW-YUL fares. This may have been previously reported, but PD now have their codeshare flight # on the new TS YUL-YOW flights. Not only will these be good for connecting at YUL to TS' network, but 3 days a week will enable YUL connections over YOW to the PD network.

Today’s departure count: 76

Sun flights count (both transborder & international): 11

Today's cancellation count (so far): 1

[mxg308]

Final totals for YOW:
Total for 2025: 4,866,236
December 2025:
Domestic: 290,655
Transborder: 65,563
International: 69,195
Total: 425,413

Compared to 2024 totals:
Domestic: +6.5%
Transborder: -2.1%
International: +11.9%
Total: +5.6%

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by mxg308

Final totals for YOW:
Total for 2025: 4,866,236
December 2025:
Domestic: 290,655
Transborder: 65,563
International: 69,195
Total: 425,413

Compared to 2024 totals:
Domestic: +6.5%
Transborder: -2.1%
International: +11.9%
Total: +5.6%

I know Dominion301 has longer records than what's on the YOW website, but that seems like a new record for December International and not sure there's anything close. And that's with Porter just starting their international sun program in mid-December (and not being close to their peak either in that regard). January should be interesting with the AF 77W upgauges + PD's increases.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Saw a Facebook post that a small GA plane slid off runway 32 (I can't link the post without it being linked to my profile but there are pictures on the post). There is a NOTAM that 14/32 is closed until tomorrow.

AC889 is 7/20 J and 13/21 PY. Tonight's AC888 is 15/20 J and 17/21 PY.

No injuries after small plane slides off runway at Ottawa Airport

By Josh Pringle, CTV News
Updated: January 28, 2026 at 12:46PM EST | Published: January 28, 2026 at 12:32PM EST



A small aircraft slid off the runway at the Ottawa International Airport after experiencing a landing gear problem.

Photos posted on social media showed the small plane sitting in the snow on the edge of the tarmac at the airport Wednesday morning.

A spokesperson for the Ottawa International Airport said the pilot of the aircraft declared an emergency due to landing gear problems.

“The aircraft landed on Runway 14/32; however, because one landing gear would not lock in place, the aircraft exited the runway, stopping in snow,” airport spokesperson Krista Kealey said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“Fire Service personnel were in place as the aircraft landed, per the Airport Emergency Plan, and they attended to the aircraft’s single occupant with no injuries reported.”

Runway 14/32 will remain closed until the aircraft can be moved.

The Ottawa International Airport says the airport is operating normally.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/articl...ttawa-airport/

[RomanR27]

Porter to announce YOW-YSB and YOW-YQG beginning May 1 and YOW-YLW beginning May 13.

Edit: they're already loaded. YQG/YSB are daily and YLW is 5x weekly.

PD2571 YOW 1400 1546 YQG DH4 D
PD2572 YQG 1630 1810 YOW DH4 D

PD2543 YOW 1425 1530 YSB DH4 D
PD2544 YSB 1610 1715 YOW DH4 D

PD325 YOW 0950 1145 YLW 295 x15
PD326 YLW 1240 2000 YOW 295 x15

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Porter to announce YOW-YSB and YOW-YQG beginning May 1 and YOW-YLW beginning May 13.

Edit: they're already loaded. YQG/YSB are daily and YLW is 5x weekly.

PD2571 YOW 1400 1546 YQG DH4 D
PD2572 YQG 1630 1810 YOW DH4 D

PD2543 YOW 1425 1530 YSB DH4 D
PD2544 YSB 1610 1715 YOW DH4 D

PD325 YOW 0950 1145 YLW 295 x15
PD326 YLW 1240 2000 YOW 295 x15

Excellent. Hopefully YHM and YQB eventually follow, along with YXU if they ever launch service there. YLW at X15 must mean something else will fly on those days.

[mxg308]

I wonder if YMM will launch considering YMM authorities seemed so convinced this would actually take off after the false start in the fall? I'd still like to see YXU and maybe one more US flight that connects to an AA hub (PHL or ORD).

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by mxg308

I wonder if YMM will launch considering YMM authorities seemed so convinced this would actually take off after the false start in the fall? I'd still like to see YXU and maybe one more US flight that connects to an AA hub (PHL or ORD).

IIRC it was days 135 when originally loaded this past winter, so 2x weekly on days 15 could happen and run opposite to YLW. I believe ops of MCO/FLL/CUN are concentrated around days 156 this summer, so it's possible that's the reason YLW isn't running on these days is to reserve the frames for the sun ops.

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by mxg308

I wonder if YMM will launch considering YMM authorities seemed so convinced this would actually take off after the false start in the fall? I'd still like to see YXU and maybe one more US flight that connects to an AA hub (PHL or ORD).

I think today is just the first round. If I remember correctly from previous years, they had announcements for the summer in waves, but over the past 12 months deliveries of new frames have been much slower. On the other hand, if they are trying to increase utilization, another round of announcements is possible. Fingers crossed. Very surprised YQR have been left out again.

[Dominion301]

YMM is loaded in the PD booking engine again, but the only options are LGW, YMQ and BOS, which makes zero sense.

Originally Posted by RomanR27

I know Dominion301 has longer records than what's on the YOW website, but that seems like a new record for December International and not sure there's anything close. And that's with Porter just starting their international sun program in mid-December (and not being close to their peak either in that regard). January should be interesting with the AF 77W upgauges + PD's increases.

It is indeed a record international for the third consecutive December. Pre-COVID, the only time international broke 50K in December was back in 2011.

Transborder in December was actually less bad than November by 5.7%. Remember how last fall it seemed like transborder was all but guaranteed to blow past 800,000 in 2025? Instead, the airport will be lucky to hang onto 700,000 for 2026 thanks to an orange stain.

On the flip side, International soared to new record in 2025 (only took 13 years to surpass 2012's total of 456,529 lol) and the only question for 2026 is by how much will it blow past the 1/2 million mark and could it even flirt with 600,000? January 2012's monthly record of 73,706 should finally get broken - and possibly multiple times in 2026.

The other question for 2026 will be can YOW re-surpass 5 million? It might be doable, but given transborder, getting to 2018's 5.1 million record at this point might not be feasible. Let's assume transborder drops by 75K and it's fully offset by international gains. Is there enough domestic capacity coming online to gain 150K over the next 12 months to get back to 5 million? Currently:
- WS are projecting to be a net -1x daily this summer
- PD, even with YQG, YSB and YLW coming online and increased YWG and YHZ capacity, with their seasonal reductions this winter and reduced YTZ, YVR, YQT, YQM & YYG flying are at best flat at present for 2026.
- AC have capacity and frequency gains to YVR, YTZ, YFC & YQM with YYZ frequency staying the same but with what appears to be a larger average gauge (i.e., seats) per departure vs last summer when the 319s were still at mainline and were going to YYZ 2-5x/day. While YUL has more frequency, it'll have less capacity with no mainline loaded yet.

Here's the full breakdown and thanks to @mxg308 for breaking the year-end numbers:

Sector / Dec-24 / Dec-25 / % Change
Dom: 289,590 / 290,655 / +0.4% - AC suspended YYC and YWG over the holidays on top of the usual YQB & YTZ.
TB: 81,666 / 65,563 / -19.7%
Int'l: 58,020 / 69,195 / +19.3%
TTL: 429,276 / 425,413 / -0.9%

Sector / Y-E 2024 / Y-E 2025 / % Change
Dom: 3,431,500 / 3,654,284 / +6.5%
TB: 741,449 / 726,311 / -2.0%
Int'l: 433,875 / 485,641 / +11.9%
TTL: 4,606,824 / 4,866,236 / +5.6%

December % of traffic recovered vs 2019 / YTD vs 2019
Sector / December / Full year % recovered
Dom: 92.8% / 91.5%
TB: 111.8% / 105.8%
Int'l: 146.0% / 113.8%
TTL: 101.5% / 95.3%

12 Months Rolling / % Change vs Year End 2023
Dom: 3,654,284 / +14.1%
TB: 726,311 / +26.1%
Int'l: 485,641 / +53.3%
TTL: 4,866,236 / +18.8%