OTTAWA — Travel from Canada to the United States dropped sharply in April, continuing a three-month downward trend as political tensions, trade disputes, and growing unease about cross-border relations take a toll on Canadian travel habits.
According to a new Statistics Canada report, 1.1 million passengers were screened for U.S.-bound flights at Canadian airports in April 2025—down 5.8% from April 2024 and 12.5% below April 2019, the last pre-pandemic benchmark.
In contrast, travel within Canada and to international destinations outside the U.S. increased. Domestic air travel rose 7.4% year-over-year, while international travel to non-U.S. destinations climbed 7.1%, marking a 19% surge over 2019 levels.
Canada’s eight largest airports—including Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, and Montreal-Trudeau—handled a combined 4.5 million passengers in April, up 3.6% from the previous year and nearly 2% above pre-pandemic volumes. The data, compiled by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), excludes aircrew, connecting passengers, and staff.
Although Statistics Canada did not assign reasons for the U.S. travel decline, industry analysts cite rising political friction as a major factor. Tensions have escalated since U.S. President Donald Trump reintroduced tariffs on Canadian goods and made inflammatory remarks about annexing Canada as a 51st state. These actions have sparked calls for boycotts of American products and travel.
Ryan Ewing, founder of AirlineGeeks.com, said sentiment among Canadian travellers has shifted. “There’s clearly a reaction to the political climate. The drop in Canadian-origin traffic to the U.S. is significant,” he told CTVNews.ca.
John Gradek, an aviation expert at McGill University, added that concerns about increased U.S. border scrutiny are also weighing on travellers’ minds. “There are growing reports of aggressive checks and detentions at the border. Canadians are getting nervous,” he said.
With tensions showing no signs of easing, analysts expect more Canadians will opt for domestic vacations or travel to international destinations beyond the U.S. in the months ahead.