Flight Centre survey shows Canadian travel to the U.S. down 40 per cent

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/12/17/flight-centre-survey-shows-canadian-travel-to-the-u-s-down-40-per-cent/

By Catalina Gillies

Posted December 17, 2025 5:46 pm.
It’s been a Canadian tradition to fly down south for the holidays and get a break from the snow, but all of that has changed after a turbulent year with our next-door neighbour.

According to local travel agencies, Canadians are increasingly choosing destinations other than the United States, with trips to the sunny south and Europe on the rise, and travellers more willing to go further and extend their vacation.

A low Canadian dollar, political factors and border issues are among the reasons for the startling drop. Flight Centre Canada General Manager Anita Emilio says travellers are looking for a stress-free experience, where they feel safe and where their dollar stretches further.

“We’ve consistently seen a 40 per cent reduction in travellers travelling to the US,” says Emilio. “We’ve seen airlines introduce routes where they’ve pulled planes off of routes down to the U.S. and they’re now travelling into different destinations.”