YOW - YCD

C$ 168 Find Cheap Flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
C$ 294
Typical prices: C$ 509-C$ 773
WestJet
Sun 7/10Sun 14/10
YOW - YCD • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way flights
C$ 168
Typical prices: C$ 305-C$ 610
WestJet
Sun 7/10
YOW - YCD • 2 stops
When to book
5 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 67% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 36% price drop
August
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Calgary (YYC)
Cheapest • Avg C$ 661 (round-trip)
Vancouver Intl (YVR)
Shortest trip • 7h 22m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Nanaimo!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo (YOW-YCD)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Ottawa to Nanaimo

Sat, 3 Oct - Sat, 10 Oct
WestJet Logo
7:20 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
10h 50m2 stops Calgary Vancouver Intl
WestJet Logo
3:45 p.m. - 5:35 a.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
10h 50m2 stops Vancouver Intl Calgary
C$ 292WestJet
Wed, 7 Oct - Wed, 14 Oct
WestJet Logo
7:20 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
10h 50m2 stops Calgary Vancouver Intl
WestJet Logo
3:45 p.m. - 5:35 a.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
10h 50m2 stops Vancouver Intl Calgary
C$ 294WestJet
Wed, 7 Oct - Wed, 14 Oct
WestJet Logo
7:20 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
10h 50m2 stops Calgary Vancouver Intl
WestJet Logo
3:45 p.m. - 5:35 a.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
10h 50m2 stops Vancouver Intl Calgary
C$ 295WestJet
Sat, 3 Oct - Sat, 10 Oct
WestJet Logo
1:20 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
28h 50m2 stops Calgary Vancouver Intl
WestJet Logo
3:45 p.m. - 5:35 a.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
10h 50m2 stops Vancouver Intl Calgary
C$ 314WestJet
Tue, 6 Oct - Sat, 24 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
11h 10m3 stops Toronto Pearson Intl Edmonton Vancouver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:45 p.m. - 5:35 a.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
10h 50m2 stops Vancouver Intl Calgary
C$ 407Multiple Airlines
Sat, 3 Oct - Sat, 10 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
35h 10m3 stops Toronto Pearson Intl Calgary Vancouver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:45 p.m. - 5:35 p.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
22h 50m3 stops Vancouver Intl Calgary Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl
C$ 436Multiple Airlines
Tue, 6 Oct - Sat, 24 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
11h 10m3 stops Toronto Pearson Intl Calgary Vancouver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:45 p.m. - 5:35 a.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
10h 50m3 stops Vancouver Intl Kelowna Calgary
C$ 451Multiple Airlines
Thu, 12 Nov - Mon, 16 Nov
Air Canada Logo
7:45 a.m. - 3:51 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
10h 06m1 stop Vancouver Intl
Air Canada Logo
3:30 p.m. - 11:56 p.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
6h 26m1 stop Vancouver Intl
C$ 524Air Canada
Thu, 12 Nov - Mon, 16 Nov
Air Canada Logo
6:00 a.m. - 3:51 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
11h 51m2 stops Toronto Pearson Intl Vancouver Intl
Air Canada Logo
3:30 p.m. - 11:56 p.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
6h 26m1 stop Vancouver Intl
C$ 529Air Canada
Thu, 12 Nov - Mon, 16 Nov
Air Canada Logo
6:00 a.m. - 3:51 p.m.YOW  Ottawa-YCD Nanaimo Arpt
11h 51m2 stops Toronto Pearson Intl Vancouver Intl
Air Canada Logo
10:10 a.m. - 10:55 p.m.YCD  Nanaimo Arpt-YOW Ottawa
10h 45m2 stops Vancouver Intl Toronto Pearson Intl
C$ 623Air Canada
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Ottawa to Nanaimo flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

Round-trip flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo start at C$ 294. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from C$ 509 to C$ 773. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was C$ 294 on WestJet.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Ottawa to Nanaimo and is 25% cheaper than the average day. Sunday is the most expensive day with flight prices 56% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

  • September is the cheapest month to fly from Ottawa to Nanaimo at C$ 397 round-trip.
  • December (C$ 1,034) and August (C$ 943) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 160% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from Ottawa to Nanaimo the cheapest?

Flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo are cheapest 5 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 67% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Key details for Ottawa to Nanaimo flights

Low season

December

Cheapest flight

C$ 168
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 66% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (51% more expensive on average)
Flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo

When to book flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Ottawa to Nanaimo based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Ottawa to Nanaimo flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

    Flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo usually depart from Ottawa (YOW) and arrive at Nanaimo Arpt (YCD).

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo:

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo pass through?

    Connecting flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo most commonly pass through:

    • Calgary (YYC) – 62% of one-stop connections
    • Vancouver Intl (YVR) – 38% of one-stop connections
    Together, these airports account for 100% of one-stop bookings on this route.

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 53% on the Ottawa to Nanaimo route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at C$ 469 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at C$ 978, a difference of C$ 509. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • How expensive are last-minute Ottawa to Nanaimo flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 137% above the route average of C$ 624. Book 5 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How long does a flight from Ottawa to Nanaimo take?

    There are currently no direct flights available from Ottawa to Nanaimo. Flights with 1 layover take between 7h 22m and 7h 44m in total, depending on the connection.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

  • Have flight prices from Ottawa to Nanaimo changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about C$ 294 to C$ 1,848. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Ottawa to Nanaimo looking right now?

    One-way fares from Ottawa to Nanaimo are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about C$ 219, which is 40% below the typical average for this route.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport when travelling from Ottawa to Nanaimo?

    Flying via Vancouver Intl (YVR) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 7h 22m, compared with 7h 44m via Calgary (YYC).

  • What is the time difference between Ottawa and Nanaimo?

    Nanaimo is 3 hours behind Ottawa (Pacific Time vs Eastern Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Ottawa to Nanaimo flight?

    Round-trip flights from Ottawa to Nanaimo range from C$ 509 to C$ 773, with an average of C$ 624 over the past 12 months. Anything below C$ 509 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking Ottawa to Nanaimo flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Tuesday flights average C$ 469 – about C$ 509 less than Sunday (52% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 5 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 67% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Ottawa to Nanaimo trip for September. Fares historically average C$ 397 round-trip in that month – typically C$ 637 less than the most expensive month, which is December (based on the last 12 months).

More options for your flight from Ottawa to Nanaimo

Complete your trip to Nanaimo with a hotel stay or car rental

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