Canadian air travel to the United States has dropped this spring. Political tensions, driven by tariffs and negative remarks, caused a sharp decrease in Canadian visits. Air travel fell by 13%, and land border crossings dropped by 23%. Florida, a popular destination for Canadians, saw the biggest impact, with reduced flight capacity and tourism revenue. Businesses that rely on Canadian visitors experienced even larger losses, with some reporting revenue declines of 30%.

Florida’s airports suffered the largest decreases in flight availability. For example, Fort Myers lost 30% of its scheduled flights, and Palm Beach experienced a 43% reduction. These reductions reflect April projections for Canadian flights to U.S. destinations. In contrast, business hubs like Hawaii and major cities such as San Francisco and Newark held their ground. Hawaiian destinations kept their Canadian flights, likely because of the long travel distance and fewer last-minute changes.

While some U.S. regions maintained stable flight services, tourism-dependent sectors in Florida faced a steeper decline. The reduction in flight capacity did not fully capture the downturn’s extent. Local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and attractions reported losses exceeding flight reductions.

Canadians usually travel to the U.S. in winter and spring, but fewer choose the U.S. in summer. Even if relations between the two countries improve, experts predict that U.S. tourism won’t recover until 2026. Strained relations will continue affecting tourism in U.S. regions like Florida, which have long relied on Canadian visitors.

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