Key Takeaways
• Air Canada suspends five US routes for Winter 2025-26 amidst over 20 total cuts since April 2025.
• Demand drops 70%, business travel falls 40%, and border crossings decrease significantly early 2025.
• Air Canada shifts focus to Europe and Asia-Pacific; domestic travel demand rises in Canada.
Air Canada Cuts US Flight Schedule for Winter 2025-26: What It Means for Travelers and the Industry
Air Canada has announced a major reduction in its US flight schedule for the Winter 2025-26 season, marking a significant shift in how Canadians travel to the United States 🇺🇸. This move, which includes the suspension of five cross-border routes, is part of a larger trend among Canadian airlines. Over the past several months, carriers like WestJet, Porter, and Flair have also cut back on flights to the US, affecting connections to key destinations such as California, Florida, New York, Texas, Nevada, and Washington.
This article explains why these changes are happening, what routes are affected, and how this impacts travelers, businesses, and the broader relationship between Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸. We’ll also look at what airlines are doing in response and what the future might hold for cross-border air travel.
What’s Happening: Air Canada’s Winter 2025-26 US Flight Schedule Cuts
On May 26, 2025, Air Canada announced it would suspend five more US routes for the upcoming winter season. While the airline hasn’t named the exact routes in this latest announcement, this is just the latest in a series of reductions. Since April 2025, more than twenty cross-border routes have been dropped by Air Canada and other Canadian airlines.
These cuts are not limited to one city or region. They affect flights from major Canadian hubs like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver to important US cities. For example, flights from Toronto to Nashville, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, and Washington Dulles have all been reduced. Montreal has seen fewer flights to San Francisco, Miami, New York LaGuardia, and Orlando. Vancouver has lost flights to Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington Dulles, with some routes canceled entirely.
Key points:
– Five US routes suspended for Winter 2025-26
– Over twenty cross-border routes cut since April 2025
– Major reductions from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver
– Other airlines like WestJet, Porter, and Flair also cutting US flights
Why Is Air Canada Reducing Its US Flight Schedule?
The main reason for these cuts is a sharp drop in demand from Canadians wanting to travel to the United States 🇺🇸. Several factors are driving this decline:
Political Tensions
Political issues have played a big role. Air Canada’s CEO, Michael Rousseau, said that “the noise around tariffs and trade disputes definitely had an impact.” Comments from President Trump about Canada 🇨🇦 possibly becoming the “51st state” and other political statements have made some Canadians less interested in visiting the US. Many are choosing to stay away as a form of protest against current US policies toward Canada 🇨🇦.
Economic Factors
Money matters, too. The Canadian dollar has been weak compared to the US dollar, making trips to the United States 🇺🇸 more expensive for Canadians. CEO Rousseau explained that “some travelers avoided the US simply because it was expensive.” With higher costs for flights, hotels, and shopping, many Canadians are rethinking their travel plans.
Drop in Business and Leisure Travel
It’s not just tourists who are staying home. Business travel from Canada 🇨🇦 to the United States 🇺🇸 has dropped by 40% in early 2025, according to Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. Road traffic across the border is also down, with a 35% decrease in April 2025 compared to the previous year.
How Big Is the Drop in Demand?
The numbers show a dramatic fall in travel between Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸:
- Transborder bookings at Air Canada are down at least 13% for the next six months
- Overall passenger bookings on Canada-US routes are down 70% compared to last year
- Forward bookings for April-September 2025 have dropped by up to 75% according to some industry data
- US Customs and Border Protection reports a 12.5% drop in border crossings from Canada 🇨🇦 in February and an 18% drop in March 2025
- Business travel fell by 40% in early 2025
These numbers have forced Air Canada to lower its financial expectations for 2025. The airline now expects adjusted earnings of $3.2 billion to $3.6 billion, down from an earlier forecast of $3.4 billion to $3.8 billion.
Which Routes and Cities Are Most Affected?
Air Canada’s reductions touch many popular routes. Here’s a closer look at some of the changes:
Toronto
- Toronto – Nashville: Reduced from 14 to 10-12 weekly flights (July-August 2025)
- Toronto – New Orleans: Reduced from 5 to 3 weekly flights (July-August 2025)
- Toronto – Pittsburgh: Reduced from 2 to 1 daily flight (June-August 2025)
- Toronto – Raleigh/Durham: Reduced from 20 to 14 weekly flights (July-August 2025)
- Toronto – Washington Dulles: Reduced from 14 to 10 weekly flights
Montreal
- Montreal – San Francisco: Reduced from twice daily to once daily for Winter 2025
- Montreal – Miami: Reduced from 14 to 12 weekly flights (Summer 2025)
- Montreal – New York LaGuardia: Reduced from 49 to 48 weekly flights (Summer 2025)
- Montreal – Orlando: Reduced from 21 to 18 weekly flights (Summer 2025)
Vancouver
- Vancouver – Los Angeles: Reduced from 5 to 4 daily flights (July-August 2025)
- Vancouver – Miami: Reduced from 4 to 3 weekly flights (Summer 2025)
- Vancouver – Washington Dulles: Planned summer service canceled entirely
Other airlines are making similar cuts. WestJet has canceled or reduced flights from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg to US cities like Austin, New York JFK, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. Porter Airlines has reduced flights to Boston, Newark, and Washington D.C. Flair Airlines has canceled routes to Nashville and Las Vegas.
How Are Airlines Responding?
With fewer Canadians flying to the United States 🇺🇸, airlines are moving their planes to other markets where demand is stronger.
Shifting to Europe and Asia-Pacific
Air Canada is now using some of its planes for new or expanded routes to Europe and Asia-Pacific. For example, a Boeing 737 Max that once flew to the US is now flying from Montreal to Edinburgh. The airline has also started new flights from Vancouver to the Philippines. WestJet has added 114 more flights to Europe since March 2025, especially to Dublin and Edinburgh. More Canadians are choosing to travel to Europe, Japan, Thailand, and Australia instead of the United States 🇺🇸.
Focusing on Domestic Travel
Some of the planes that used to fly to the US are now being used for flights within Canada 🇨🇦. Air Canada’s network planning chief, Mark Galardo, said that Canadians are showing more interest in traveling to domestic destinations. This shift gives airlines a chance to strengthen their networks at home while US demand remains low.
What Does This Mean for Travelers?
If you’re planning to fly between Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸 in Winter 2025-26, you’ll have fewer options. Some routes will have fewer flights, while others may be canceled altogether. This could mean:
- Higher prices on the remaining flights due to less competition and fewer seats
- Longer travel times if you need to connect through other cities
- Less flexibility in choosing travel dates and times
- Possible need to change travel plans if your usual route is no longer available
Business travelers may find it harder to schedule meetings or attend events in the United States 🇺🇸. Tourists may decide to visit other countries or stay within Canada 🇨🇦.
What About Immigration and Cross-Border Movement?
While these changes are mainly about airline schedules, they also affect immigration and cross-border movement. Fewer flights mean it may take longer or cost more for people to visit family, attend school, or work in the United States 🇺🇸. This could impact:
- Students who travel between Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸 for education
- Workers who cross the border for jobs or business meetings
- Families who visit relatives in the other country
If you need to apply for a visa or other travel documents, it’s important to check the latest requirements and plan ahead. The US Department of State provides official information on US visas and entry requirements.
Industry and Economic Impacts
The reduction in Canada-US flights is not just a problem for travelers. It also affects the airline industry, airports, tourism businesses, and the economies of both countries.
Airlines
Airlines like Air Canada are losing revenue from fewer passengers. They have to adjust their financial plans and find new ways to use their planes and crews. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this shift is forcing airlines to look for growth in other markets, such as Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Airports
Airports in both countries may see fewer passengers, which can mean less money from landing fees, parking, and shopping. Smaller airports that rely on cross-border flights could be hit especially hard.
Tourism and Business
Hotels, restaurants, and attractions in US cities that usually welcome Canadian visitors may see fewer customers. Business travel is also down, which can affect trade and investment between the two countries.
Broader Economic Relations
The drop in travel is a sign of deeper issues in the relationship between Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸. Political tensions and economic challenges are making it harder for people and businesses to connect across the border.
Will This Trend Continue?
All signs point to continued reductions in Canada-US air service, at least for the near future. Data from Cirium’s Diio Mi shows that Air Canada’s capacity from Canada 🇨🇦 to the United States 🇺🇸 for June-August 2025 will be 7.6% lower than last year. Airlines have removed over 320,000 seats from Canada-US routes through October 2025.
What started as a short-term response to political headlines now looks like a longer-lasting change. Airlines are investing more in routes to Europe and Asia-Pacific, and Canadians are choosing to travel to those regions instead. Unless political and economic conditions improve, it’s likely that cross-border air travel will remain below pre-2025 levels.
What Should Travelers and Businesses Do?
If you need to travel between Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸, here are some steps you can take:
- Book early: With fewer flights, seats may sell out faster, especially during busy times.
- Check alternative routes: You may need to connect through different cities or airlines.
- Monitor airline announcements: Airlines may make more changes as demand shifts.
- Stay informed about visa and entry requirements: Use official sources like the US Department of State for the latest updates.
- Consider other destinations: If travel to the United States 🇺🇸 is too expensive or difficult, look at options in Europe, Asia-Pacific, or within Canada 🇨🇦.
Conclusion: A New Era for Canada-US Air Travel
The reduction in Air Canada’s US flight schedule for Winter 2025-26 is part of a much bigger story. Political tensions, a weak Canadian dollar, and changing travel habits are all reshaping how Canadians connect with the United States 🇺🇸. Airlines are responding by shifting their focus to other markets, and travelers are adjusting their plans.
For now, those who rely on cross-border flights will need to plan carefully and stay flexible. The situation could change again if political or economic conditions improve, but for the foreseeable future, the Canada-US air travel landscape will look very different from what travelers have known in the past.
For more detailed analysis and updates on airline schedules and immigration impacts, VisaVerge.com reports that travelers and businesses should keep a close eye on official airline and government announcements as the situation continues to evolve.
Learn Today
Cross-border routes → Flight paths connecting cities across the Canada-US border for passenger or cargo travel.
Transborder bookings → Flight reservations for air travel between two countries, here between Canada and the US.
Boeing 737 Max → A modern, fuel-efficient narrow-body aircraft used by airlines for short to medium-haul flights.
US Customs and Border Protection → US government agency managing border security and immigration enforcement at ports of entry.
Adjusted earnings → Company profits recalculated after accounting for certain expenses, reflecting more accurate financial results.
This Article in a Nutshell
Air Canada slashes US flights for Winter 2025-26 due to falling demand from Canadians. Political tensions and economic factors cause steep declines. Airlines pivot to Europe, Asia, and domestic routes. Travelers face fewer options, higher prices, and altered plans. This shift signals lasting changes in Canada-US air connectivity and travel trends.
— By VisaVerge.com
