Trade tensions: WestJet suspends Seattle, ends Vegas early in Kelowna

Reports of Canadian travellers losing interest in trips to the United States continue to surface as U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war on the world rages on. 

The latest is out of Kelowna International Airport (YLW), where WestJet has reportedly suspended, and ended, select flights to U.S. destinations.

As reported in Global News, WestJet has suspended its Seattle service for the month of April, until May. The Calgary-based carrier has also ended its Las Vegas service earlier than originally planned.

The update was confirmed by Phillip Elchitz, Kelowna International Airport director of operations and innovations, who spoke to the outlet.

As demand for U.S. destinations declines, more Canadians in Western Canada are choosing to travel domestically, Elchitz told Global.

READ MORE: Air Canada concerned about U.S. dropoff as new tariffs loom

“Domestic travel is up considerably, as well as seats. Seat capacity domestically this summer is going to be up 10 per cent compared to last year, so that’s good news. And year to date, we’ve actually seen a 15-per cent increase in travel and demand domestically,” said Elchitz.

As PAX confirmed last week, WestJet will also not proceed with a Calgary-LaGuardia route – despite announcing the service in January.

The seasonal itinerary was supposed to begin May 24 and end on August 30, and would have complemented WestJet’s year-round, daily flights from Calgary to New York’s JFK airport during the same time period.

READ MORE: From “tariffic” deals to muted U.S. marketing: Canadian airlines react to trade war

The airline has also suspended planned service between Edmonton (YEG) and Orlando International Airport (MCO), Edmonton and Montreal (YUL), and Montreal and Winnipeg (YWG) from its summer 2025 schedule.

In an earlier statement to PAX, WestJet said it has “observed a shift” in bookings from the U.S. to other sun destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean, and to transatlantic destinations such as Ireland, Scotland and Iceland.

“We remain focused on continuing to fly where there is demand,” the airline said.

Airlines adjust  

The trend aligns with activity seen at Canada’s other airlines – Air Canada, Porter and Flair have all adjusted their schedules as demand for U.S. travel dips and shifts.

The tense political climate and influence of President Trump – who, in addition to implementing global tariffs, has repeatedly called to make Canada a 51st state – are affecting travel perceptions.

READ MORE: Bookings on U.S. routes down about 10% amid trade war, says Air Canada

A recent Abacus Data poll revealed that 66 per cent of Canadians feel the current situation has made the U.S. a less attractive travel destination.

Earlier this week, Air Canada said that it’s Canada-U.S. flights for the next six months were “comparable” to an industry-wide drop of about 10 per cent (not a whopping 70 per cent, as an earlier report from UK-based OAG had previously claimed).

The U.S. dropoff, combined with Trump’s escalating tariff policy, is generating some worries at the airline.

“Am I concerned?,” Air Canada Chairman Vagn Sørensen said in a response to a question from a shareholder at an annual meeting on Monday, as reported by MSN. “Yes, definitely, I’m concerned.”

U.S.-Canada routes represented 22 per cent of Air Canada’s passenger revenue in 2024.

Porter, meanwhile, has tweaked its summer schedule so that domestic routes are 80 per cent of its total capacity, up from 75 per cent in its original plan.

“Our goal is to fly where our customers want to travel, and this is a moment Canada is at the top of many people’s list,” said Kevin Jackson, president of Porter, in a news release. “We are adding routes and increasing flights in regions across the country to meet this demand.”

The Toronto-based airline, however, remains confident that some Canadians will still travel to the U.S., despite the tense geopolitical climate.

Porter says its presence in the Canada-U.S. market will be 25 per cent larger than last summer.

Upon releasing its winter 2025 schedule last week, low-cost carrier Flair said the demand for U.S. sun trips is “cooling down.” 

In response, the carrier is adding more domestic flights, offering extra hops between Vancouver and Calgary, more connections between Edmonton and Abbotsford, and other additions.

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