Air Canada is scaling back its flights to the U.S., particularly Florida, due to weaker demand. Ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. have led to fewer travelers booking flights, prompting the airline to adjust its capacity.
The airline is making several changes to its Florida-bound flights. It has started using smaller aircraft on routes from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. This shift includes replacing Airbus A321ceo planes with A319ceo aircraft, reducing available seats.
Similar adjustments are taking place on routes from Toronto to Miami, Orlando, and Southwest Florida International Airport. Additionally, Air Canada Rouge, the airline’s leisure travel subsidiary, has also seen capacity changes. The airline is also cutting weekly flights from Vancouver to Miami, reducing service from four to three flights per week.
Despite these cuts, Air Canada’s U.S. network still shows year-over-year growth in seat capacity for July. However, the airline recently removed routes from Montreal to New Orleans and Toronto to Kansas City, Portland, and Bradley International Airport. These changes indicate a cautious approach as trade conflicts create uncertainty in the market.
Air Canada recently shared its financial outlook, projecting capacity growth between 3% and 5% in 2025. The airline expects adjusted earnings between CA$3.4 billion and CA$3.8 billion. However, executives acknowledge that external risks, such as new tariffs or government policies, could impact these projections. If demand continues to drop, further reductions in U.S. routes could follow.
Industry experts note that demand for U.S.-Canada travel has already declined significantly. If trade disputes escalate, the trend could worsen, forcing more airlines to rethink their North American flight schedules.
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