by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 4:30 PM ET, Thu January 15, 2026
After the holidays is a time when many snowbirds pack up and head to sunnier climes. This year though, it seems many are following the trend of many Canadians and avoiding the U.S.
It isn’t just Canadians avoiding the U.S., tourism from around the world has fallen off. The BBC reports findings from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), stating the United States is projected to lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025. People continue to travel, however. The U.S. was the only country (out of the 184 nations analysed by the WTTC and Oxford Economics) that was forecasted to see a decline in international visitor spending last year.
Airlines Cut US Capacity
Analytics company OAG released statistics showing that airlines have responded to the trend by cutting capacity, in some cases drastically. It reports Flair Airlines has cut seats flying to the U.S. by 58 percent. WestJet and Air Canada have also cut: by 19 and 7 percent respectively.
The biggest cuts have been to leisure market destinations. Las Vegas and Florida have been particularly affected.
Overall, Canadian carriers have cut U.S. bound capacity by nearly 10 percent for the first quarter of 2026, representing 450,000 seats.
Airlines are making up for it by increasing lift to the destinations Canadians are going, mainly Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.
OAG concludes its reports by wondering if the changing travel preferences are here to stay, particularly in the snowbird demographic. A lot seems to ride on how positive their experiences are this year — whether the longer flights and new destinations are worth making the change permanent. “The travel trends observed in the first quarter of 2026 may signal a lasting shift in travel patterns. and, notably, in spending habits among a traditionally affluent demographic seeking warmth and sunshine,” states the report. If so, the resulting effects on tourism in key US markets could be significant.
Topics From This Article to Explore
