Two flags, one from Canada and one from the United States, wave above the Peace Arch monument at the Douglas border crossing in Surrey, British Columbia, on Monday, November 8, 2021. The Canadian Press
Fewer Canadians traveled to the United States in May, continuing a trend that has lasted several months. New data shows that both air and road trips to the U.S. from Canada dropped again compared to last year.
Statistics Canada reported on Tuesday that air return trips by Canadian residents from the U.S. fell by 24.2 per cent from May 2024. That means only around 488,800 Canadians came back from the U.S. by air in May 2025.
Road Trips Also Decline
Car trips saw an even bigger drop. About 1.3 million Canadians returned from the U.S. by car in May. That number is down 38.1 per cent compared to last May. This marks the fifth month in a row that road trips to the U.S. have declined year-over-year.
Why Are Canadians Staying Away?
Many Canadians have chosen to avoid visiting the U.S. recently. One of the major reasons is their strong reaction to President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his recent statements suggesting Canada is like a “51st state.” This political tension has led to a noticeable boycott of U.S. travel.
Airlines Feel the Impact
Because of fewer travelers heading to the U.S., airlines have started reducing their U.S. routes. In March, Air Canada cut back on flights to Florida, Las Vegas, and Arizona by 10 per cent. Other airlines such as WestJet, Flair, and Air Transat also trimmed their schedules.
Last month, Air Canada lowered its yearly financial forecast, pointing to weaker demand for U.S. trips. The airline noted that more Canadians are choosing to travel within Canada or visit places in Europe, Asia, and Australia instead.
Canadians Still Travel, Just Elsewhere
While fewer Canadians are going to the U.S., more are flying to other countries. Return trips from overseas countries went up by 9.8 per cent in May compared to the same time last year. That’s about 1.1 million Canadians returning home from international trips.
Fewer Visitors Coming Into Canada Too
It’s not just Canadians who are changing their travel habits. Fewer people from other countries are visiting Canada too. In May, a total of 4.8 million travelers — including both Canadians and visitors — arrived in Canada by air or car. That number is down 16.7 per cent from May 2024.
Air arrivals by non-residents dropped slightly. About 894,200 people from outside Canada arrived by air, which is down 1.3 per cent from last year. Of those, around 439,800 were U.S. residents, down 0.3 per cent. The number of visitors from overseas countries dropped by 2.3 per cent, with 454,500 arrivals.
Meanwhile, road trips into Canada by U.S. residents dropped by 8.4 per cent in May to 1,044,700. This is the fourth straight month of fewer Americans driving into Canada.
