Why is B.C. Travel to the U.S. Plunging for 11 Straight Months?

The desire of British Columbia (B.C.) residents to avoid travel to the United States remained strong at the close of 2025. This trend marks a sustained shift in Canada-U.S. cross-border travel. The decline is evident in both air and ground transport data. It comes amid a continuing “Buy Canadian” movement. This movement is a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and political rhetoric, according to industry reports.

Vehicle Crossings Fall Precipitously

Data for B.C.-plated passenger vehicles shows a significant drop. Crossings at four main border points near Vancouver fell by 36 per cent for the year 2025. This represents a decrease from 2,359,215 crossings in 2024 to 1,498,590 in 2025. December 2025 marked the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year decline for B.C.-plated passenger vehicles.

The monthly declines were steep throughout the year. April saw the largest drop, with a 51 per cent year-over-year decrease. The total volume of all passenger vehicles heading south was down 25 per cent for the year. This sustained drop has severely impacted U.S. border businesses that rely on Canadian visitors.

Vancouver International Airport Sees U.S. Flight Decline

The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) also reported a significant slide in air travel to the U.S.. Data from the Vancouver Airport Authority (VAA) showed a 6.5 per cent overall decline in passengers on flights to or from the U.S. through November. In November alone, passenger counts on U.S. flights dropped by 13.3 per cent year-over-year, totaling 390,671.

This November drop was the 11th straight month of decline for the YVR U.S. flight volume. Analysis suggests the decline is driven by Canadian-resident travel sentiment. The VAA determined the biggest driver was a decline in round-trips originating at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), not those starting in the U.S..

Canadian airlines have already responded to the national trend. Carriers like Air Canada and WestJet have reportedly trimmed U.S. flight capacity. They are redeploying aircraft to other leisure-focused routes. This highlights the economic impact on the transborder market.

Contrasting Growth in Asia-Pacific and Domestic Travel

Despite the plunge in U.S. travel, YVR's overall passenger count for November was up about one per cent. This growth was fueled by other sectors.

• Domestic Travel: Domestic passenger volume was up 1.7 per cent in November. Domestic travel was up in 10 of the first 11 months of 2025.
• Asia-Pacific Growth: Travel from the Asia-Pacific region was the largest driver of growth. Passenger numbers rose by 20.9 per cent in November. This was helped by increased flight frequency.

Several airlines boosted their Asia-Pacific service to YVR. China Eastern resumed twice-weekly flights from Shanghai in late September. Korean Air increased its weekly frequency between YVR and South Korea's Incheon International Airport (ICN) from seven to eleven flights in July. New entrant Trinity Airways (formerly T'way Air Co. Ltd.) also launched four-times-weekly service from ICN in July. This shift shows a clear pivot in international travel demand from B.C. residents and other travelers.

For more on commercial aviation news and market trends, visit flying.flights.

Aviation Stakeholder Impact and Outlook

The prolonged decline in the Canada-U.S. cross-border travel market presents a challenge. It forces airlines and airports to re-evaluate capacity deployment. The shift favors domestic and non-U.S. international routes. This is a key factor for aircraft utilization and route profitability. Major manufacturers like Boeing must monitor these geopolitical shifts. Such changes influence fleet planning and regional demand for new aircraft. The data suggests Canadian-resident travel sentiment is a powerful market force. This trend is not isolated to B.C., but the province shows the most significant drop. U.S. tourism boards are now seeking ways to entice Canadian visitors back.