Several airlines have reduced the number of seats on U.S.-bound flights in April, while industry data shows that bookings have declined significantly
Mar 31, 2025
As tensions rise between Canada and the United States, a significant shift is emerging in cross-border travel. Canadian travelers are increasingly turning away from U.S. destinations, leading airlines to cut tens of thousands of seats on U.S.-bound flights. A mix of political discontent, grassroots boycotts, and unfavorable exchange rates are prompting Canadians to rethink their travel plans – redirecting tourism dollars to other destinations and creating ripple effects throughout the airline and tourism industries on both sides of the border.
Key takeaways
- Seat Cuts on U.S.-Bound Flights: Canadian airlines are reducing seats to U.S. destinations in April, a peak travel month. Air Canada cut 7%, while Flair Airlines slashed 25%, according to Visual Approach Analytics.
- Political Fallout: A growing boycott movement in Canada—sparked by President Trump’s policies targeting Canada’s economy—is discouraging travel to the U.S. and American product purchases.
- Travel Industry Response: Canadian travel agencies have stopped promoting U.S. destinations due to consumer backlash, shifting focus to Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Cuba.
- Booking Plunge: OAG reports a 70% drop in advance bookings on Canada-U.S. routes from April to October 2025, though airlines like Air Canada dispute the extent of the decline.
- Decline in Cross-Border Trips: Canadian visits to the U.S. dropped 13% in February year-over-year. Border crossings by car fell from 1.5 million to 1.2 million.
- Impact on Florida: Florida is among the hardest-hit destinations, with airports in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Orlando seeing up to 30% fewer seats from Canada.
- U.S. Airlines Adjust: United Airlines canceled a planned Toronto–Los Angeles route and scaled back others due to a “big drop in Canadian traffic.”
- Currency Matters: A weaker Canadian dollar has made travel to the U.S. more expensive, reinforcing Canadians’ resolve to avoid American trips.
- Personal Sentiment: Some Canadians express emotional resistance to visiting the U.S., even while Americans abroad show gestures of goodwill, indicating complex sentiments between the nations.
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