Canada’s Airlines Slash Flights to US Cities

Air Canada, WestJet, Porter and Flair are slashing flights to US cities, including New York, Washington, DC, Miami and San Francisco, in response to rising diplomatic tensions, including new tariffs and new registration requirements for Canadians staying longer than 30 days.

Other top issues are President Donald Trump’s repeated comments about making the independent nation of Canada the 51st US state, and the deportations of Canadian citizens on arrival at a US airport, which are part of a crackdown on immigrants, but also sweep up other visitors, such as a Canadian business woman held in detention for two weeks.

Clearly, Canadians are rebelling and cancelling vacations in the US.  Some even are selling their second homes in warm and sunny places like Palm Springs, California. 

With a significant drop in both leisure and business travel from Canada to the U.S., Canada’s carriers are now reallocating capacity toward Europe and the Caribbean, where demand remains strong and political conditions are more favorable.

Cross-Border Travel Declines Significantly

Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows that entries from the northern border fell by 12.5% in February 2025 and a further 18% in March.

According to Statistics Canada, in March, the number of Canadians making road trips across the border fell 32% compared to the same month in 2024. Air travel from Canada to the U.S. also declined by 13.5%, and forward bookings from the U.S. to Canada for the April to September period dropped by more than 70%, compared to the previous year.

This retreat comes amid growing discomfort among Canadian travelers, fueled by strict U.S. border enforcement, electronic device inspections, and political rhetoric painting Canada as “the 51st state.”

It’s not just leisure travel.  Flight Centre Travel Group Canada reported that Canadian business travel to the United States plummeted by 40% in the early months of 2025.

Political Fallout Behind the Travel Freeze

Tourism Economics forecasts a 15.2% decline in international visitors to the U.S. this year alone.

That downturn in travel from Canada is similar to fewer arrivals from top European markets like Germany and Spain—which were down 30% and 25%, respectively, in March 2025.  

While President Donald Trump dismissed concerns in an April 27 media exchange—calling the tourism slowdown “not a big deal”—his rhetoric and border policy decisions have sent ripples through the travel industry, including airlines.

Meanwhile, Canada has issued updated travel advisories cautioning citizens about “strict enforcement” at U.S. borders and warning of increased scrutiny of electronic devices.

Similar advisories have been issued by France, Belgium, Finland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, reinforcing the perception of risk when entering the United States.

New Requirements for Stays Over 30 Days

As of April 2025, the Trump Administration requires that Canadians staying in the US for longer than 30 days must register and be fingerprinted.

Violations include a $5,000 fine, six months in jail, or both.

Here are the specific requirements and exemptions, on this US Government website page.

The registration requirement is part of the Alien Immigration Act, which has been in effect for 80 years but rarely enforced for vacationers, especially those from Canada – until now.

Air Canada Cancels US Routes

In 2024, the airline ramped up trans-border service, including frequent flights between Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), with up to three daily rotations during peak summer months.

However, facing reduced demand, the airline now returns to just one daily flight, cutting previously scheduled frequencies.

These cuts follow earlier reductions to routes linking Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with Miami, Houston, and Washington.

The airline also has added frequencies and new seasonal routes to major European destinations, including Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt.

WestJet Cancels US Routes

WestJet, another major Canadian airline, has also made decisive cuts to its U.S. schedule.

The airline recently canceled its planned Vancouver–Austin route, which was set to launch in May 2025, citing a “downward shift in demand.”

This follows previous cancellations of routes between Calgary and New York-LaGuardia and between Edmonton and Orlando.

Instead, WestJet is pivoting to Europe with new flights to popular transatlantic destinations, including new service to London Gatwick and Dublin..

Porter Airlines Cuts Frequencies & Refocuses on Canada

Porter Airlines, a growing player in Canada’s mid-size market, has implemented “targeted frequency reductions” on select U.S. routes due to softening demand.

At the same time, the airline is expanding its domestic Canadian network, increasing capacity from 75% to 80%. Interestingly, while still maintaining some Canada–U.S. service, Porter has paused marketing campaigns aimed at promoting U.S. travel, reflecting traveler hesitation and internal reassessment of brand priorities amid current conditions.

Despite the cuts, Porter’s overall Canada–U.S. capacity remains 25% higher than last year, showing the airline’s continued interest in maintaining strategic corridors even as broader retrenchments occur.

Flair Airlines Reshuffles US Flights

Flair Airlines, Canada’s low-cost carrier, has reduced more than a third of its U.S. flights in response to what executives describe as a significant drop in bookings.

The airline is redirecting its operations toward more intra-Canada routes and possibly new destinations outside North America.

Economic Costs of the Canadian Decline in US Travel

The U.S. Travel Association warns that even a 10% drop in Canadian tourism could cost the U.S. economy more than $2.1 Billion and the loss of more than 140,000 jobs.

Cities such as San Francisco, Miami, New York, Orlando, Houston, and Washington—which have traditionally benefited from steady Canadian visitor traffic—are already seeing fewer arrivals, empty hotel rooms, and reduced spending in restaurants, attractions, and retail.

Codeshare partnerships with Canadian airlines are also being re-evaluated, and some U.S. airlines have begun to reduce marketing campaigns targeting Canadian customers.

Traveler Sentiment & Safety Concerns

Beyond economics and schedules, the freeze in travel is also psychological.

Canadian travelers increasingly cite discomfort with political instability and unpredictable border interactions as reasons for deferring U.S. trips.

The Canadian government’s advisory, which highlights increased scrutiny at ports of entry—including searches of electronic devices—has only amplified these concerns.

Europe, by contrast, is perceived as safer, more welcoming, and culturally enriching, particularly for leisure travel.

The absence of political hostility, coupled with efficient entry policies and strong tourism recovery plans, make Europe and the Caribbean attractive alternatives for Canadians.

Canada-U.S. Route Reductions in 2025

Changed Future for Canada–US Air Travel

While the flight reductions for peak summer travel may be short-term, Canada–U.S. air travel may not return to previous highs anytime soon.

Canadian airlines are not just adjusting routes—they are signaling a new era in international air strategy.

Faced with declining demand and mounting political tensions, Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, and Flair have opted to freeze expansion into the U.S. and reroute their focus toward the robust, receptive skies of Europe.

The ripple effects will be felt across both continents—changing the way Canadians travel, the cities they connect with, and the airlines that shape their global journeys.

But it adds up to billions of dollars of losses to the US economy – specifically to the US travel industry.

Thanks to the travel industry trade publication Travel and Tour World  for the original article on which ecoXplorer based this article.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as Immediate Past President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA).

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA).

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter