FlightHub data shows Canadians delaying early-year travel

Canadians are travelling less in the immediate post-holiday period, with departures down approximately 36 per cent year-over-year in January and February, according to new data from FlightHub.

The decline suggests travellers are delaying trips rather than cancelling them, spreading travel more evenly across the first two months of the year instead of departing immediately after New Year's, the online travel agency said.

Domestic travel volumes were approximately 51 per cent lower year-over-year, while international travel volumes were about 26 per cent lower. 

Long-haul and visiting friends and relatives routes remained resilient, with Toronto–Delhi continuing as the most popular early-year route.

Domestic airfares dropped 16 per cent year-over-year, declining from $240 to $202 on average, but lower prices were not sufficient to fully revive early-year travel demand.

Gen Z travellers increased their share of early-year travel, rising from 26 per cent in 2025 to 29 per cent in 2026. 

FlightHub said younger Canadians were quicker to take advantage of quieter travel periods and lower fares.

The data is based on round-trip bookings originating in Canada for travel between January 1 and February 28, comparing 2026 departures to the same period in 2025. 

Data was extracted on January 7, 2026, and includes domestic and international travel.

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