Canadians’ U.S. Border Crossings Plunge While Ottawa Airport Sees Uptick

(OTTAWA) Canadian travel habits are shifting fast in mid-2025, with fewer crossings into the U.S. by land and more international trips routed through Ottawa International Airport. June marked the sixth straight month of year-over-year declines in Canadians driving to the United States 🇺🇸, a 33% drop from June 2024. At the same time, Ottawa International Airport (YOW) saw a sharp rise in Canadians returning from destinations outside the U.S., including 9,173 such arrivals in July 2025 alone. The combined trends point to a clear move away from short hops over the border and toward longer-haul flights that skip U.S. transit.

Border travel declines vs. airport growth

Statistics from early 2025 show a steady pullback in land trips. Canadian-resident trips to the United States fell 2.3% in January 2025 compared to the previous year, continuing a pattern of softer demand.

Bus passenger volumes at major northern ports also slid in early 2025, though some locations — notably Blaine, WA — posted increases. While those gains at Blaine show local factors can buck the broader trend, the overall direction remains down for land traffic.

Air travel tells a different story. Ottawa International Airport is reporting strong recovery and new momentum on routes outside the U.S.:

• 4.6 million passengers in 2024, up 12.47% from 2023.
• Continued rebound that began in 2022.
• 9,173 returning Canadians from non-U.S. destinations in July 2025.

These numbers underscore how many travelers are re-routing vacations, study trips, and family visits through Canadian and overseas hubs rather than relying on U.S. connections.

Important context: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported historic lows on the southwest border — a 93% decrease in encounters in May 2025 compared with May 2024. While the southwest border differs from the northern frontier, these figures reflect a strong U.S. enforcement focus and can indirectly influence traveler route choices. CBP’s public data is available at: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats

Pandemic legacy and shifting traveler choices

The 19‑month closure of the U.S.-Canada border to non-essential travel during the pandemic left a lasting imprint. The border reopened fully in late 2021, but the recovery has been uneven.

• In 2024, trips to the United States still made up about 75% of all Canadian-resident travel abroad.
• Early 2025 data shows that share slipping, in line with declines in car and bus crossings.

What’s pushing more travelers toward airports like YOW?

• Canadians are booking more direct international flights from domestic hubs, reducing the need to connect through U.S. airports.
• Airlines have restored and added routes, creating more non-U.S. options and sometimes cutting total travel time.
• A tighter U.S. enforcement posture — even when focused on the southwest — keeps border rules top of mind.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these factors collectively encourage Canadians to choose non-U.S. itineraries when practical — often to avoid extra connections and potential screening at U.S. airports, or to reach Europe, Latin America, or Asia directly from Canadian gateways.

Economic and community impacts

A sustained fall in crossings into the U.S. affects border communities on both sides:

• Towns that rely on weekend shoppers, day trippers, and tour buses feel the pinch.
• Restaurants, hotels, and retail shops face a significant revenue drop when summer flows decline.

The 33% year-over-year drop in June 2025 represents a large shortfall for businesses that plan staffing and inventory around predictable summer cross-border traffic. In response, some local business groups and tourism boards in U.S. border areas have launched campaigns highlighting deals and faster processing to attract Canadians back.

For Canadian airports and airlines, the outlook is more positive. The surge at Ottawa International Airport suggests continued demand for non-U.S. travel and may encourage carriers to maintain or expand service.

• Ottawa’s recovery indicators:
  • 4.6 million passengers in 2024 (up 12.47% from 2023)
  • Ongoing growth since 2022
  • 9,173 returning Canadians from non-U.S. points in July 2025

This reflects not only leisure travel but also students, workers, and families choosing itineraries that bypass U.S. gateways.

Practical guidance for travelers

Travelers should plan with these shifts in mind:

• Expect busier check-in lines and security queues at Ottawa International Airport during peak hours as demand for direct overseas routes increases.
• If avoiding U.S. transit points, build extra time into connections in Europe, the Middle East, or other hubs where screening and passport checks may differ.
• Watch seat availability and pricing; higher demand on non-U.S. routes can tighten supply during holidays and summer periods.
• If driving across the border, check current wait times, carry proper documents, and plan around busy periods.

Policy signals and future outlook

CBP’s reported 93% reduction in southwest encounters in May 2025 (year-over-year) — emphasized by Acting Commissioner Pete Flores — indicates the United States 🇺🇸 is leaning into enforcement. Although this figure pertains to the southwest border, it contributes to a broader environment shaping travel decisions.

Canadian and U.S. officials continue to balance security with trade and travel. Future changes — from infrastructure upgrades at land ports to airline schedule shifts — will reflect that balance.

The pandemic’s legacy trained many Canadians to look beyond cross-border routines. With steady non-U.S. options from Ottawa and other Canadian airports, those new habits are easier to maintain. If current patterns persist, analysts expect:

1. Continued downward pressure on land crossings into the U.S.
2. Airports like YOW expanding their role as primary international gateways for the National Capital Region in 🇨🇦.

For border towns near high-traffic points such as Blaine, WA, small monthly rebounds can help, but broader numbers — six months of declines in car crossings and a 2.3% January dip in Canadian-resident trips to the U.S. — suggest a full recovery is not yet underway.

For families, students, and workers, the takeaway is simple: flying from Ottawa International Airport to non-U.S. destinations may now offer more choices and fewer border variables. If you prefer driving across the border, prepare by checking wait times and documents to make the trip smoother.

As of August 2025, the center of gravity has shifted: fewer wheels on the ground at the border, and more wings in the air over Ottawa.