U.S. travel demand slips again as transborder traffic drops 10.2%

Travel to the United States continues to weaken at Canada's major airports, with transborder passenger volumes down 10.2 per cent in February, marking the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year declines.

Statistics Canada reported Tuesday (March 31) that 4.2 million passengers passed through pre-board security screening at checkpoints operated at Canada’s eight largest airports in February, up 1.0 per cent compared to February 2025. 

The overall increase was driven by gains in domestic and international (non-U.S.) travel.

Transborder traffic fell to 1.0 million screened passengers in February 2026. 

Compared to February 2024, before trade tensions with the United States, transborder volumes were down 12.0 per cent, reflecting what Statistics Canada describes as a notable shift in travel patterns.

The share of passengers travelling to the United States is also shrinking. 

In February 2026, transborder passengers accounted for 24.2 per cent of all screened travellers, down from 27.2 per cent in February 2025.

All eight of Canada’s largest airports recorded year-over-year declines in transborder traffic. 

The segment remains concentrated at four major hubs, which account for more than 90 per cent of such travel. 

In February, Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International (-8.7 per cent), Vancouver International (-6.5 per cent), Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (-9.4 per cent) and Calgary International (-12.6 per cent) all posted decreases.

Meanwhile, travel outside the United States continues to grow. 

The number of passengers screened for international flights reached 1.4 million in February, up 5.1 per cent year over year. 

The international sector has recorded increases in all but one month since February 2025.

Domestic traffic also rose, reaching 1.8 million passengers in February, up 5.3 per cent compared to the same month last year.

All eight of Canada’s largest airports posted gains in domestic travel.

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