Canada
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Ottawa
Ottawa's technology sector ships high-value electronics, often via Montreal or Toronto.
Services in Ottawa
- Air freight in OttawaAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in OttawaFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in OttawaImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Ottawa
- AirportOttawa
YOW - AirportMontreal
YUL - SeaportPort of Montreal
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is the airport of Canada's capital, with mainly domestic and transborder passenger flights that carry belly cargo and limited international capacity. For larger international shipments, cargo for Ottawa is usually routed via Montreal-Trudeau (YUL), roughly 200 km east, or Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and trucked to Ottawa. By sea, Ottawa is served by the Port of Montreal, with road and rail connections to the city.
Highway 417 (the Queensway) runs through Ottawa and continues east to Montreal, while Highway 416 links Ottawa with Highway 401 towards Toronto and the US border crossings in eastern Ontario. Across the Ottawa River, Gatineau in Quebec is connected via several bridges. Trucking to Montreal and Toronto is the standard link for international air and sea freight.
Industries in Ottawa and how we support them
Ottawa has a large technology sector, centred on the Kanata North technology park, with telecom, networking, software and semiconductor companies. The federal government and defence organisations are major employers and generate shipments of electronics and sensitive equipment. We support these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via YOW, YUL or YYZ, Next Flight Out for urgent network equipment, On-Board Courier for prototypes and sensitive items, and sea freight through the Port of Montreal. For export-controlled technology, we check the documentation with you before shipping.
Operational logistics facts for Ottawa
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) | Belly cargo on domestic and transborder flights | Air freight directly into the capital region |
| Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) | International widebody and freighter capacity | Trucking to Ottawa from the large gateways |
| Kanata North technology park | Telecom, networking and semiconductor products | Time-critical handling for high-value electronics |
| Highway 417 / Highway 416 | Road freight to Montreal, Toronto and the US | Direct road access to the main gateways |
Customs clearance in Canada
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Canada is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Canada we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Canada need a business number with an import-export account and registration in CARM.
Frequently asked questions
Do you route Ottawa air freight via YOW, Montreal or Toronto?
It depends on the shipment. Ottawa (YOW) works for some routings, while Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) offer more international capacity. We compare options for each shipment and book under our own air waybills, with road transport to Ottawa.
Can you ship prototypes from Kanata tech companies?
Yes. Prototypes often travel with an On-Board Courier, who keeps them confidential and under supervision door to door. For larger items, we book air freight with packaging agreed in advance and prepare the export documentation.
Do winter storms affect air freight to Ottawa?
Yes, snow and de-icing between December and March can delay flights. For time-critical shipments, we monitor the weather, inform you about expected disruption and propose alternative routings via Montreal or Toronto where needed.
Who clears customs for shipments into Ottawa?
Clearance is done by a partner team in the Ziem network under the Ziem Logistics brand, to our procedures and with the shipment data we prepare. Declarations are filed with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and you deal only with Ziem Logistics.
What export controls apply to technology shipped from Ottawa?
Certain goods and technology are listed on Canada's Export Control List and require an export permit from Global Affairs Canada, depending on the item and destination. The exporter determines whether a permit is needed; we check that the references are in the documents before shipping.
What are controlled goods in Canada?
Certain military and strategic goods are controlled goods under Canada's Controlled Goods Program, and companies handling them must be registered. If your shipment involves such goods, please tell us at the time of booking so the handling can be planned accordingly.