WestJet Suspends US Flights: Canadians Choose to Stay Local!

WestJet Airlines, Canada’s second-largest airline, is stopping nine of its flights to the US because fewer people want to travel there. This is happening because of political tensions and Canadians feeling uneasy about going to the United States. One of the new flights from Vancouver to Austin, which was supposed to start soon, has been pushed back until at least October 2025. Other affected routes include flights from Calgary to New York, Edmonton to Chicago, and Kelowna to Seattle.

Josh Yeats, a spokesperson for WestJet, said the airline is always watching what’s happening in the market. He mentioned, “WestJet will keep checking and changing its schedule based on demand and is open to future opportunities for these routes.”

Canadians’ summer travel choices are now influenced more by politics than by things like price. Many feel unsettled by US President Donald Trump’s comments about Canada, which some interpret as a threat. Ongoing trade arguments are also making Canadians choose to travel inside their country or go to other places instead of the US.

Air Canada, another big airline, is seeing a drop in US flight bookings and is now focusing on expanding services to places in Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They also reported a 10% drop in reservations for flights to the US for the upcoming travel season.

Both WestJet and Air Canada are increasing their domestic flights and looking into new routes in Europe, where travel demand is strong. WestJet has started new flights to Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona from Halifax, giving Canadians more choices beyond the US.

A recent survey showed that 88% of Canadians now prefer to take road trips within Canada instead of traveling to the US. This situation shows how politics and international relations can significantly impact how people decide to travel.