Airline Travel Between Canada, US Plunges Amid Trump’s Tariff War

Airline travel between Canada and the United States is collapsing, with passenger bookings down by more than 70% due to President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff war with Canada, newly released data from aviation analytics firm OAG has revealed.

According to OAG, airline capacity between the two countries has been significantly reduced through October 2025, with the most severe cuts expected during the peak summer travel season between July and August.

The report, cited by The Guardian UK, analyzed transborder flight bookings from March 2024 to March 2025, showing that reservations for the upcoming six-month period from April through September have dropped by 71% to 76% compared to the same period last year.

Additionally, airline capacity has been slashed, with over 320,000 seats removed from flights between Canada and the US through the end of October. The most substantial reduction—3.5%—is set to occur during the summer months when travel demand is typically at its highest.

Despite these capacity cuts, the data suggests airlines may not be adjusting quickly enough to the steep decline in demand, as Canadian travelers appear increasingly hesitant to book flights to the US. Analysts believe the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariffs is a major deterrent.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has condemned the latest round of US tariffs, calling them a “direct attack” on Canadian workers, further fueling tensions between the two nations.