Caught in the crossfire of a Canada-U.S. trade spat, Porter Airlines is slashing its U.S. destination ads, citing a frosty reception from some Canadians. “We’ve dialed down marketing south of the border—it’s not landing well with everyone,” the airline told INsauga.com.
Porter’s still flying high, though, with a 150% U.S. route boom over the past year and no plans to ground its 16 American city connections. “Schedules shift with the seasons,” they explained. “Summer’s coming, and 75% of our peak focus is domestic.”
The move tracks with a wider travel slump: Flight Centre Travel Group Canada reports a 40% drop in U.S. bookings this February compared to last, plus one in five clients ditching American trips since December. A loonie stuck near 70 U.S. cents adds to the sting. “We’re staying nimble,” Porter said. “U.S. leisure took a dip, but Canadians aren’t done crossing the line.”