Canadian Travel to U.S. Declines for 12th Consecutive Month in January 2026
Transborder traffic from Canada to the United States continued its downward trend in January 2026, marking the twelfth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. This period coincides with the first year of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, characterized by punishing tariffs on Canadian goods and ongoing political tensions, including threats of annexation.
Key Statistics Reveal Steep Drop in Cross-Border Travel
According to Statistics Canada's monthly data on screened passenger traffic at Canadian airports, travel to the U.S. fell by 7.9 per cent in January 2026 compared to January 2025. This decline brought the total number of trips to approximately 1.1 million, a significant reduction from previous years.
The proportion of travelers heading to the U.S. among all screened passengers—including both Canadian and non-Canadian residents—dropped to 23.2 per cent in January 2026, down from 26.5 per cent in the same month of 2025. This shift highlights a broader trend away from U.S. destinations.
Airport-Specific Declines and Pre-Pandemic Comparisons
All of Canada's eight largest airports reported year-over-year decreases in transborder traffic for January. The four largest hubs, which account for 90 per cent of all traffic, recorded notable declines in screened passenger counts for flights to the U.S.
StatCan noted that transborder passenger counts for January were 12.5 per cent below the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level from January 2020, indicating a sustained impact on cross-border mobility.
Contrasting Trends in International and Domestic Travel
In stark contrast to the decline in U.S.-bound travel, international flights to destinations outside the U.S. saw a significant uptick. In January 2026, these flights reached 1.6 million passengers, representing an 11.9 per cent increase from January 2025 and an 18.5 per cent rise above pre-pandemic levels from January 2020.
Domestic traffic within Canada also showed positive growth, increasing by 7.9 per cent year-over-year to 1.9 million screened passengers. This figure is four per cent higher than the number recorded in 2020, suggesting a recovery in internal travel.
Overall Airport Traffic and Regional Variations
Overall, 4.5 million passengers passed through screening at Canada's eight largest airports in January 2026, up 5.1 per cent from 2025 and four per cent above the pre-pandemic level in 2020. This growth was driven by increases in international and domestic travel, offsetting the decline in U.S.-bound trips.
Seven of the eight airports reported higher volumes of screened passenger traffic year-over-year, with only Winnipeg airport posting a slight drop of 0.1 per cent. Six of the eight airports surpassed their January 2020 pre-pandemic screened passenger volume, indicating a general recovery in air travel despite the cross-border slump.
The sustained decline in Canadian travel to the U.S. underscores the ongoing economic and political challenges between the two nations, with tariffs and diplomatic strains likely influencing traveler behavior. As international and domestic travel rebound, the cross-border segment remains a notable exception, reflecting broader geopolitical dynamics.
