Air Canada to reduce US bound flights as trade tensions and currency struggles persist – Travel And Tour World

Saturday, February 15, 2025
Air Canada has announced plans to cut capacity on routes to Florida, Las Vegas, and Arizona starting in March, citing the ongoing Canada-U.S. tariff dispute and the weakened Canadian dollar.
Meanwhile, WestJet is closely monitoring declining demand for U.S. travel, hinting at potential adjustments to its own transborder operations.

WestJet Faces Slowing Demand for U.S. Routes

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech stated that interest in U.S. travel has dropped by 25% in recent weeks.

While he stopped short of confirming capacity reductions, he acknowledged the airline is evaluating its transborder network.

“We are watching, and we don’t know how sustainable this is,” von Hoensbroech said during a press conference on February 13, 2025.

“We are watching, and we don’t know how sustainable this is,” von Hoensbroech said during a press conference on February 13, 2025.
WestJet cited softening demand for flights to the U.S., attributing it to trade tensions and the weak exchange rate, both of which are discouraging Canadians from traveling south.

Polls Reveal Growing Canadian Hesitation Toward U.S. Travel

A Leger poll conducted from January 31 to February 3, 2025, found that 48% of Canadians are less likely to visit the U.S. this year, nearly double the 29% reported in mid-January.
A subsequent Léger poll (February 7-10, 2025) reported in the National Post showed the number rising to 56%, signaling a significant shift in traveler sentiment within just one week.
According to the survey:
🛫 61% of Canadians avoiding U.S. travel plan to explore domestic destinations instead.
📍 30% will travel within their home province.
🏔 31% will visit another province within Canada.

Canadian Travel to the U.S. Sees Initial Decline

Although Statistics Canada has yet to report a dramatic decline, Canadian air visits to the U.S. dropped 2.8% in January 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
However, industry analysts warn that this figure could worsen if consumer sentiment continues to shift.
With Air Canada already scaling back flights and WestJet considering adjustments, the Canada-U.S. aviation landscape could see further disruptions in the coming months.

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Tags: Air Canada, Air Canada flight cuts, airline capacity reduction, Arizona, Canada-U.S. trade dispute, Canadian dollar exchange rate, Canadian tourism trends, domestic travel Canada, flights, florida, Las Vegas, the U.S., transborder travel, U.S. Travel, U.S.-Canada tariffs, WestJet U.S. flights

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