Airlines Scramble to Adjust Routes and Capacity As Demand From Canada Dries Up

The political situation between the United States and Canada has been rather tense during the current presidency. Talk of making Canada the 51st state and steep tariffs have created issues with our neighbors to the north. Airlines like WestJet and Flair (and even United Airlines) are reducing frequencies, pausing some routes, and even cancelling some routes altogether given the current situation.

#FlairAirlines to cancel 7 U.S. routes.

▪️Toronto – Nashville
▪️Edmonton – Las Vegas
▪️Edmonton – Phoenix
▪️Vancouver – Palm Springs
▪️Waterloo – Fort Lauderdale
▪️Calgary: Las Vegas, Phoenix

Source: @IshrionA

📷 ©Flair Airlines#Canada #US #aviation #AvGeek #avgeeks #flights pic.twitter.com/58lHMdn6OB

— FlightMode (@FlightModeblog) March 5, 2025

Earlier this month, I wrote about Flair (a Canadian low-cost carrier) cancelling seven US routes. Routes that are getting chopped include:

• Calgary International Airport (YYC) to/from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) (ends on April 7th)
• Calgary International Airport (YYC) to/from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) (ends on April 8th)
• Edmonton International Airport (YEG) to/from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) (ends on April 7th)
• Edmonton International Airport (YEG) to/from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) (ends on April 8th)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to/from Nashville International Airport (BNA) (already ended)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to/from Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) (ends on April 6th)
• Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) to/from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) (ends on April 7th)

United Airlines reduces some Canada flights this summer:

• Toronto (YYZ) to Los Angeles (LAX) new route canceled
• Washington DC (IAD) to Ottawa (YOW) 4x → 3x daily
• Washington DC (IAD) to Montreal (YUL) 3x → 2x daily

+ some other reductions on Saturdays

— Ishrion Aviation (@IshrionA) March 21, 2025

United Airlines recently updated its schedule to cancel its planned flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It’s also planning on reducing the frequency on multiple routes including flights to/from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and both Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) (among others).

WestJet has canceled plans to launch its new route from Calgary (YYC) to New York LaGuardia (LGA).

American Airlines still plans to begin its own LGA-YYC route this summer.

WestJet continues to serve YYC to New York JFK. WestJet also will suspend Edmonton (YEG) to Orlando (MCO)… pic.twitter.com/nWDtfGtcn5

— Ishrion Aviation (@IshrionA) March 23, 2025

Finally, WestJet is removing its new route between Calgary International Airport (YYC) and New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) before it even launched. Service between Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) is also being suspended from May to October.

Anthony’s Take: Anecdotally, I can say that I don’t see nearly as many Canadian license plates in Florida. It appears that many Canadian travelers are opting to go elsewhere for their warm weather travels. I expect we’ll see more changes and cancellations if tensions do not cool down soon.

(Featured Image Credit: Rarrarorro via iStock.)