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Ottawa to Yellowknife Flight Distance

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Yellowknife Airport (YZF)

Medium HaulNorthwest (322°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

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1,931
Miles
3,107
Kilometers
1,678
Nautical miles
4h 19m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale3,107 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

YOW
Origin
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Ottawa, Canada
45.3225°, -75.6692°
YZF
Destination
Yellowknife Airport
Yellowknife, Canada
62.4628°, -114.4400°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 1,931 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 4h 19m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

Time Adjustment: Yellowknife is 2 hours behind Ottawa. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 485 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 2 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)1,931 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)3,107 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)1,678 nmAviation standard
Flight Time4h 19mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction322° NWNorthwest
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference-2hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)485 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)1406 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1939 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset44Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger93 L~16,740 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines2Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the right side for views with less sun glare on this northwest flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Bring entertainment, snacks, and a neck pillow for comfort.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 485 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 44 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
YOW
DEPARTURE

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

Ottawa, Canada

IATA / ICAO
YOW / CYOW
Elevation
374 ft (114 m)
Local Time
02:55 PM
GMT-4
Coordinates
45.3225°, -75.6692°
View full airport details
YZF
ARRIVAL-2h from departure

Yellowknife Airport

Yellowknife, Canada

IATA / ICAO
YZF / CYZF
Elevation
675 ft (206 m)
Local Time
12:55 PM
GMT-6
Coordinates
62.4628°, -114.4400°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

2 airlines operate flights between Ottawa and Yellowknife.

4N
Air North Charter - Canada
Canada
MO
Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight
United Arab Emirates

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
37,000 ft (11,278 m)
FL370
Flight Direction
Northwest
Initial bearing: 322°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
93 L per passenger
~16,740 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
55° 23' 57.3" N
55.3993°
Longitude
90° 53' 47.5" W
-90.8965°
Halfway Point
966 mi
130 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
485 kg
CO2e: 921 kg
Premium Economy
776 kg
CO2e: 1473 kg
Business
1406 kg
CO2e: 2671 kg
First Class
1939 kg
CO2e: 3684 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 44 trees.Equivalent to 0.9 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
2 hours back
Flying westward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
right Side
Sun will be on the right (east/south) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on northbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
7.8% of Earth's circumference
2
124 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Similar to Los Angeles to New York (3,944 km)
4
2.5 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles1,931 mi
Kilometers3,107 km
Nautical Miles1,678 nm
Meters3,107,000 m
Feet10,195,680 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)4h 19m

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 3,107 km between Ottawa and Yellowknife at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h4h 19m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h6h 13m
Bullet Train320 km/h9h 43m
Car (highway)100 km/h31h 4m
Walking5 km/h621h (26 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h2h 31m

Round Trip Summary

3,862
total miles
6,214
total km
8h 38m
total flight time
970
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: YZF to YOW

Quick Facts

Distance1,931 mi
Flight Time4h 19m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionNW
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff-2h
CO2 (Economy)485 kg
Airlines2

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Ottawa from Yellowknife?

The flight distance from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Yellowknife Airport (YZF) is 1,931 miles (3,107 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 4h 19m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

Yellowknife is 2 hours behind Ottawa.

What airlines fly this route?

2 airlines operate this route: Air North Charter - Canada, Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 485 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 1406 kg. First class: 1939 kg. Offset with ~44 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this Northwest flight, the right side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Ottawa to Yellowknife instead of flying?

Driving is not practical for this 3,107 km distance. It would theoretically take over 39 hours of driving. Flying at 4h 19m is the recommended option.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 485 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 44 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route