Trans-border travel from Canada to the United States dipped in April, marking the fourth straight month of declines amidst heightened tensions between the two countries. The decreases come as anti-American sentiment in Canada is on the rise due to newly imposed tariffs, suggestions from President Trump about Canada becoming a U.S. state and heightened concerns about actions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.
Data from Statistics Canada showed that transborder passengers accounted for 25.5% of the total number of screened passengers (Canadian and non-Canadian residents) in April, down from the 28.1% recorded in April 2024. Moreover, in April 2025, transborder passenger counts were significantly lower (-12.5%) than the pre-pandemic level recorded in April 2019
Canada’s four largest airports, through which the vast majority of transborder traffic passes, all showed declines, Statistics Canada reported. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) registered a 5.3% drop in transborder traffic, while transborder traffic through Vancouver International Airport (YVR) slumped 7.6%. Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) had the largest decline at 10.1% in April. Calgary International Airport (YYC) registered a relatively modest 1.6% drop.
While the downturn in transborder traffic is significant, air travel in Canada is thriving in both the domestic and international sectors. In April 2025, domestic passenger traffic was 2.0 million, 7.4% higher than in April 2024 and modestly surpassing (+1.5%) the pre-pandemic level recorded in April 2019, Statistics Canada reported. The number of passengers screened for international travel (outside the United States) in April 2025 was 1.4 million, up 7.1% over the same month in 2024 and sharply higher (+19.0%) than the level posted in April 2019.
Overall in April 2025, Canada’s eight largest airports posted higher volumes of passenger traffic year over year. Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) posted the largest increase (+8.6%) over April 2024.
