Toronto – Arab Canada News

Air Canada announced a noticeable decrease in demand for flights between Canada and the United States during the upcoming travel season, amidst escalating trade tensions between the two countries after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods.

According to the company, the number of tickets booked for travel between the two countries from April to September 2025 has decreased by 10% compared to the same period last year, which is a clear indicator of the impact of political and economic tensions on Canadian consumer behavior.

Increasing concern about long-term effects

Vagn Sorensen, Chairman of Air Canada, said in remarks reported by Bloomberg:

“I am certainly concerned about the current situation. The trade war is starting to directly affect the travel decisions of Canadians, and we clearly see this in bookings.”

In this context, both Air Canada and WestJet issued separate statements last week, confirming that the current geopolitical tensions are affecting consumer confidence and reducing their desire to visit the United States.

Demand for European destinations

In contrast, Air Canada reported that it is experiencing strong and increasing demand for transatlantic flights, with Canadians showing a notable interest in European destinations such as Paris, Athens, Rome, and Edinburgh.

The airline confirmed that it will add more flights to these cities during the summer of 2025 to meet the high demand, while the share of flights to the United States has decreased, which made up 22% of passenger revenue in 2024.

Public stance rejecting U.S. policies

This decrease in demand coincided with clear social indicators of widespread Canadian reservations about current U.S. policies. A poll conducted by Leger Marketing last week showed that only 9% of Canadians said they would welcome the idea of joining the United States, while the majority expressed their rejection of the political approach represented by President Trump.

Summary:

This data reflects the increasing direct economic impact of the trade war on vital sectors such as transportation and tourism, while highlighting the growing gap in public trust between the Canadian and American sides amid rising trade and political disputes.