by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 7:45 AM ET, Thu January 15, 2026
Canadians are taking a more measured approach to travel at the start of 2026, according to new data from FlightHub.
Early-year departures fell sharply in January and February, with FlightHub reporting a 36% year-over-year decline in travel compared to the same period in 2025.
The analysis is based on round-trip bookings originating in Canada for travel between January 1 and February 28, comparing 2026 departures to 2025. Data was extracted on January 7, 2026, and includes both domestic and international travel.
Flighthub says the drop points less to waning interest in travel and more to timing and budgeting decisions following the expensive holiday season.
Travel demand is being spread more evenly across January and February, instead of peaking immediately after New Year’s, suggesting travellers are choosing to wait.
“Canadians aren’t giving up on travel this winter, they’re just being more intentional about it,” Henri Chelhot, Chief Executive Officer at FlightHub, told TravelPulse Canada.
“After the spending of the holiday season, many travellers are hitting pause in early January and shifting their trips later into the winter, even when fares are lower. What we’re seeing is a move toward smarter timing rather than a drop in interest, as travellers focus on trips that feel more planned and purposeful.”
Domestic travel saw the steepest decline, down approximately 51% year-over-year. International travel proved more resilient, falling about 26%, as Canadians continued to prioritize longer-haul, planned or essential trips.
Long-haul and visiting-friends-and-relatives (VFR) routes held steady, with Toronto–Delhi remaining the most popular early-year route.
Lower prices alone weren’t enough to reverse the slowdown. Average domestic airfares dropped 16% year-over-year, falling from $240 to $202, but demand did not rebound in step with the savings.
One exception came from younger travellers. Gen Z increased its share of early-year travel, rising from 26% in 2025 to 29% in 2026, indicating younger Canadians were quicker to take advantage of quieter travel periods and lower fares.
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