Airline News
Canadian airline cancels anticipated Austin to Vancouver nonstop route
WestJet has canceled the launch of a new route to Austin.
Canadian airline WestJet has canceled the planned May 11 launch of three-days-a-week nonstop service between Austin and Vancouver, citing decreased demand for travel to the U.S.
“WestJet remains committed to serving Austin via its global hub in Calgary, Alberta, and will review opportunities to serve Austin directly from Vancouver in the future,” WestJet spokeswoman Julia Kaiser says.
The Vancouver to Austin service was first announced in November of 2024.
WestJet competitor Air Canada still offers nonstop service between Austin and Vancouver.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, Canada is the No. 1 source of international travelers to the U.S., with 20.4 million visits tallied last year. Texas ranks among the five most visited states by Canadians. The association worries that Canadians shunning the U.S. for other travel destinations in response to U.S tariffs could lead to job losses and retail and hospitality losses. For many Canadians, U.S. political rhetoric is fueling the fire.
In March, Canadian air travel to the U.S. dropped 13.5 percent compared with the same time last year, according to Statistics Canada data cited by USA Today. Research firm Tourism Economics forecasts a 20 percent drop in Canada-to-U.S. travel this year, The Associated Press reported.
Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently encouraged fellow Canadians to choose their own country for trips.
“It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites, and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,” Trudeau said in March.
