[By Guancha Observer Network, Wang Yong; Edited by Zhao Qiankun]

Air Canada is continuing to cut back on U.S.-bound flights, citing "a decline in travel demand to the United States."

According to multiple media reports, including Aviation Week of the United States, Business Traveler, and Paxnews website of Canada, Air Canada's winter flight schedule for 2025-2026 will discontinue four U.S. routes. Previously, WestJet Airlines, Canada's second-largest airline, has suspended nine U.S.-bound routes for the summer, stating it was "for commercial reasons."

Air Canada's U.S. flights Aviation Week of the United States

The aforementioned media reported that since 2025, President Trump of the United States has imposed high tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly stated his intention to annex Canada, making it the "51st state" of the United States, which has reduced Canadians' goodwill toward the United States and decreased their interest in traveling there. The airlines mentioned that they are redeploying cross-border capacity to other international routes.

Currently, Air Canada has confirmed the cancellation of four U.S.-bound routes from Montreal Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. Among them, flights from Montreal Trudeau International Airport to Detroit and Minneapolis will cease operations on September 30 and October 19 respectively; flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Indianapolis and from Vancouver International Airport to Tampa, Florida, have also been confirmed to be canceled in the winter flight plan.

A spokesperson for Air Canada said, "We initially planned to operate the route from Vancouver International Airport to Tampa, Florida, all year round, but we have now changed this decision."

The above media reports believe that this reduction in routes is a decision made after Air Canada evaluated U.S.-bound demand during its first-quarter earnings conference call.

CEO Michael Rousseau of Air Canada stated in the conference call that in the first quarter of this year, Canadian travelers' demand shifted significantly from U.S. leisure destinations to the Caribbean, Europe, and other overseas destinations. "The 'noise' caused by the Trump administration's tariff and trade disputes undoubtedly affected Canadian travelers' demand for trips to the U.S."

In addition, Air Canada will significantly reduce the number of flights from Vancouver International Airport to Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States.

According to a report released in March 2025 by an American aviation data agency, the demand for Canadian citizens traveling to the U.S. this summer is clearly lower than in the same period of 2024, and this trend is expected to continue into the second half of this year.

The report states, "Bookings for flights from Canada to the U.S. have plummeted to collapse recently." By the end of September this year, bookings have dropped more than 70% each month. This situation indicates that Canadian citizens have lost interest in traveling to the U.S.

The aforementioned media reports mention that the international community is re-evaluating the U.S., and many airlines are adjusting their U.S.-bound operational strategies.

Among the canceled routes by Air Canada, although some routes were seasonal, the early cessation of operations indicates a shift in the airline's route planning strategy.

As travel demand between Canada and the U.S. has dropped significantly, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, among other U.S. carriers, are also continuously reducing the number of flights to and from Canada. These routes will gradually cease operations over the next few months.

This article is an exclusive piece by Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510937805992821258/

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