YOW Today
Decent day. Departures at 80%, arrivals better at 100%. Early morning flights ran 26 points better than afternoon. Fly 5am - 9am if you can. That window has been running at 100%.
What This Means for You
Mostly normal at YOW. 80% on-time means roughly 1 in 5 flights is late. If you have a tight connection, add buffer time. Afternoon departures tend to stack up.
If you can choose your departure time: early morning flights (5am - 9am) run at 100%. Afternoon (3pm - 6pm) drops to 74%. That is a 26-point difference from the same airport on the same day.
Airline Performance at YOW
avianca is the most reliable carrier at YOW with 70% on-time. Porter Airlines runs 60%. That is a 10-point spread. If you have a choice, the airline matters.
YOW Flight Board
Live departures and arrivals at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
| Status | Airline | Flight | Destination | Sched | Updated | Gate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pick Your Window
Early Morning vs Afternoon is a 26-point swing at YOW. The early morning block runs at 100%. If you have any say in your departure time, this is the biggest thing you can control.
Through the Day
Morning held up fine at 94%. 3pm is where it broke down, dropping to 63%. Currently at 80%, well below the morning numbers. A 37-point swing from best to worst today.
vs Last Week
Tracking about the same as last week. Departures at 86%, last week 87%. Arrivals roughly the same. Sun was the worst day, Wed the best.
The Bigger Picture
YOW has been bouncing between 56% and 92%. Best day was Aug 26 at 92%. Worst was Jul 2 at 56%. The norm is 76-82%, which is just how YOW runs. Today is right in line with the average.
About YOW Delays
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is currently running on time with 80% on-time departures and 100% on-time arrivals. This data updates every 15 minutes from FAA sources.
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport has averaged 86% on-time departures this week, making it highly reliable. Performance varies by time of day and weather conditions.
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is one of 179 FAA-monitored airports with real-time delay tracking. Data includes departure and arrival on-time percentages, updated every 15 minutes, with historical trends available for the past 90 days.
Nearby alternatives include YUL (Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport). When YOW is experiencing delays, these airports may offer better on-time performance.
Early morning departures from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport typically have the highest on-time rates. Delays tend to accumulate throughout the day as cascading effects from earlier disruptions compound. Check the 24-hour trend chart above for today's pattern.