Guide · Cross-border

Flying from Windsor Airport (YQG) in 2026-27: Where You Can Go, Parking, and YQG vs Detroit

Windsor International Airport is small, close and blissfully easy. Here's your 2026-27 guide to YQG: every airline and destination, including new Porter flights to Ottawa and winter sun trips to Cancún and Punta Cana, parking prices, and when it's worth driving to Detroit Metro instead.

By SamUpdated October 20263 min readHow we pick

The short answer

From Windsor International Airport (YQG) you can fly direct to Toronto Pearson (Air Canada), Ottawa (Porter), Calgary (WestJet, seasonal) and, in winter, sun spots like Cancún and Punta Cana. Long-term parking is $15 a day or $75 a week, and the first 30 minutes in short-term parking are free. For more destinations or cheaper U.S. fares, Detroit Metro (DTW) is about 30 to 45 minutes away, but you'll need a passport and time for the border.

There's a special kind of joy in arriving at an airport 60 minutes before your flight, clearing security in five, and still having time for a coffee. That's YQG. It's not huge, it won't fly you to Paris, but it's 10 minutes from most of Windsor, and nobody has ever gotten lost in it.

Where you can fly from YQG

Airline	Destination	Good to know
Air Canada Express	Toronto Pearson	Several flights a day. Connect to almost anywhere
Porter Airlines	Ottawa	Daily service added in 2026. Connect through Porter's Ottawa routes
WestJet	Calgary	Seasonal
WestJet	Cancún	Seasonal winter sun flights
Air Transat	Cancún and Punta Cana	Seasonal winter flights. Cancún service starts December 19, 2026
Cameron Air Service	Pelee Island	Seasonal small-plane service

Schedules change by season, so check the airline before you plan. Winter sun flights often sell out early for Christmas and March Break.

Parking at YQG

Lot	Price	Note
Short-term (Blue)	$3 an hour	First 30 minutes free. Right across from the terminal
Long-term (Purple)	$3 an hour, $15 a day max	$75 a week max
Cell phone lot	Free for 30 minutes	Wait here for arriving passengers. Stay with your car

Windsor International Airport parking rates, checked October 2026. Pay by debit or credit at the exit gate. Parking upgrades may cause temporary changes.

A week-long trip costs $75 to park. Compare that with big-city airport parking and you might just do a little dance in the lot.

YQG or Detroit Metro?

	Windsor (YQG)	Detroit Metro (DTW)
Distance from downtown Windsor	About 10 to 15 minutes	About 30 to 45 minutes, plus the border
Destinations	A handful of direct routes	Direct flights across North America and to Europe and Asia
Fares	Often higher, but in Canadian dollars	Often cheaper for U.S. trips, paid in U.S. dollars
Documents	Photo ID for domestic flights	Passport or NEXUS to cross the border
Parking	$15 a day	Usually more, in U.S. dollars
Stress level	Very low	Depends on the border and the security line

Use YQG when you're heading to Toronto, Ottawa or Calgary (or connecting through them) and on direct winter sun flights. Look at DTW for U.S. destinations, long-haul international trips and fare sales, but add up the exchange rate, parking and border time before deciding it's cheaper.

Tips for flying from Windsor

Arrive about 60 to 90 minutes early for domestic flights and 2 hours for international sun flights. It's quick, but small airports still have rules.
Getting there: the airport is in the southeast of the city, off Walker Road near County Road 42. Taxis and ride-hailing serve the airport.
Winter flights: pack your winter coat in a carry-on so you're not shivering in the parking lot when you get back from Cancún.
Pelee Island: Cameron Air flies small planes there in season. It's the fastest way to reach Canada's southernmost inhabited island.

Keep reading

Common questions

Where can I fly direct from Windsor Airport?

YQG has direct flights to Toronto Pearson (Air Canada), Ottawa (Porter), Calgary (WestJet, seasonal) and seasonal sun destinations including Cancún and Punta Cana, plus seasonal flights to Pelee Island.

How much is parking at Windsor Airport?

Long-term parking is $3 an hour up to $15 a day or $75 a week. The first 30 minutes in short-term parking are free.

Is it cheaper to fly from Detroit than Windsor?

Often for U.S. and long-haul flights, but fares are in U.S. dollars and you need to add border time, parking and the exchange rate.

How early should I get to Windsor Airport?

About 60 to 90 minutes before domestic flights and about 2 hours before international flights.

Sources

Spotted something out of date?

Sam