Published on
February 14, 2026
By: Rana Pratap
According to the most recent data, Canada has joined Mexico, the UK, Iceland, France, Switzerland, and other countries in significantly reducing air travel to the US, which is a worrying trend for US tourism. The difficulties facing the nation’s tourist industry are highlighted by the sharp 8% decline in foreign air travel to the United States over the previous 12 months. The drop in passengers from these important areas demonstrates how travel habits are changing globally and how aviation continues to face financial challenges. The loss has been made worse by dramatic dips in certain places, such as Canada, while other regions have suffered just slight decreases. Now that major declines have been seen in important countries like Canada, the UK, and Mexico, it is imperative that U.S. airlines and tourist boards reverse these trends and rekindle demand abroad.
Canada: The Largest Decline Among Major Markets
Canada has experienced the largest reduction in U.S.-bound air traffic among all major markets. In 2025, there were 9,785,304 arrivals from Canada to the U.S., reflecting a sharp decline of 10.2%. This drop is particularly concerning as Canada contributes a substantial portion of the U.S.’s foreign air traffic. Departures from the U.S. back to Canada also saw a similar decline of 10.4%, with 9,857,187 passengers recorded.
This significant reduction means that Canada now represents 63.7% of the total foreign air traffic share, which equates to 19,642,491 passengers. Canada’s air traffic slump is a major factor in the overall 8% drop in U.S. air travel, highlighting the country’s vital role in transborder flights. The sharp downturn in air travel from Canada emphasizes the ongoing struggles in the global aviation sector and calls for renewed efforts to attract Canadian tourists back to the U.S.
Mexico: A Modest Decline with Slight Growth in Departures
Unlike Canada, Mexico experienced a more modest decline in air travel to the U.S. Arrivals from Mexico dropped by 3.2%, with 5,967,210 passengers flying to the U.S. However, this was partially offset by a small increase in departures, which grew by 0.3%, totaling 6,647,519 passengers. This shows that while fewer Mexican visitors are arriving in the U.S., the return traffic remains steady, which indicates a relatively stable air travel flow between the two countries.
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Mexico accounted for 30.6% of the total foreign air traffic share, with a combined total of 12,614,729 passengers. This stability contrasts with the steeper declines seen in markets like Canada and the UK. Mexico’s resilience in maintaining a more balanced travel pattern suggests that the U.S.-Mexico travel corridor remains one of the more robust and less volatile routes in international aviation, even amidst global challenges.
The UK: A Key Contributor to the Decline in U.S. Air Travel
The UK has long been a key player in U.S. air travel, and its recent decline in passenger traffic has been significant. In 2025, there were 4,857,234 arrivals from the UK to the U.S., reflecting a 4.2% decrease. Departures from the U.S. to the UK also saw a reduction of 2.9%, totaling 5,121,956 passengers. The UK’s total foreign share amounted to 47.8%, with 9,979,190 passengers, highlighting the country’s continued importance despite the drop in traffic.
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The decline in air traffic from the UK is a cause for concern for both U.S. airlines and tourism sectors. As one of the U.S.’s largest foreign markets, the UK’s reduction in travel signals that even historically strong routes are not immune to the challenges facing global aviation. The U.S. may need to focus on rebuilding passenger confidence and restoring air traffic to pre-pandemic levels from Europe’s largest travel market.
Iceland: A Smaller Market with Noticeable Declines
Iceland’s air traffic to the U.S. is relatively small in comparison to other countries, but the decline in 2025 still contributes to the overall downward trend. The number of arrivals from Iceland dropped by 9.3%, with 234,223 passengers recorded. Departures from the U.S. to Iceland also fell by 5.7%, totaling 241,141. Iceland’s total foreign share amounted to 475,364 passengers, which is 22.8% of the market.
Though Iceland’s travel numbers are not as large as Canada or Mexico’s, the decline still reflects the broader challenges facing international travel. As a smaller market, the impact of Iceland’s reduced air traffic is less severe, but it adds to the cumulative decline in foreign travel to the U.S. The drop in Iceland’s travel figures highlights how even smaller nations are experiencing shifts in travel patterns due to global factors like economic changes and fluctuating demand.
France: Moderate Declines Continue Across Europe
France has experienced a moderate decline in U.S.-bound air traffic, consistent with the overall trend from European markets. Arrivals from France to the U.S. fell by 5.5%, with 1,757,789 passengers. Departures from the U.S. to France also dropped by 3.5%, totaling 1,887,339 passengers. This resulted in a total foreign share of 38.1%, with 3,645,128 passengers overall.
The decline in French air traffic, while moderate, is a part of the broader European trend of reduced travel to the U.S. The decrease in both arrivals and departures from France is indicative of the continuing challenges for transatlantic flights, despite France’s continued prominence in the U.S. air traffic market. With Europe’s largest economies continuing to face uncertainty, these declines could persist unless strategies are implemented to boost confidence in travel.
Switzerland: A Smaller Yet Noticeable Decline
Switzerland’s contribution to the drop in U.S. air traffic is smaller in volume compared to larger markets like Canada and Mexico but still worth noting. In 2025, 580,468 Swiss passengers arrived in the U.S., a 5.4% decrease from the previous year. Departures from the U.S. to Switzerland fell by 3.4%, totaling 643,034. Despite the smaller numbers, Switzerland’s total foreign share was 42.2%, with 1,223,502 passengers, signaling that even smaller markets are contributing to the overall decline in travel.
The relatively modest decline from Switzerland reflects the broader trend of reduced air travel from Europe to the U.S. This could be attributed to various factors, including economic uncertainty, higher travel costs, and shifts in passenger behavior. Although Switzerland’s overall impact is less dramatic than that of larger countries, it still plays a role in the overall downturn in U.S. international travel, particularly from Europe.
The Impact of Declining Air Travel on U.S. Tourism
The recent drop in international air travel to the U.S. has had a significant economic impact. The U.S. saw a 6–8% decline in international visitor arrivals in 2025 compared to the previous year. While global tourism has generally been on the rise, the U.S. has lagged, with foreign-originating arrivals down by 6.8%, and foreign-returning departures decreasing by 5.3%. This decline is reflected in the reduced spending by international visitors, which has fallen by approximately 4.2% in 2025, resulting in a loss of around $8.3 billion compared to the previous year. As a result, U.S. tourism is facing considerable challenges despite the global recovery in travel.
Economic Impact of Reduced International Travel
Tourism remains a key contributor to the U.S. economy, but the decline in international visitors has weakened its economic contribution. International visitor spending in the U.S. dropped to under $169 billion in 2025, a decrease from $181 billion in 2024. Despite this decline, international travel to the U.S. still accounts for around 7% of total U.S. exports, demonstrating the sector’s importance. However, the U.S. travel trade deficit continues to grow, as Americans are spending more abroad than foreign visitors are spending in the U.S. This trend highlights the growing imbalance and underscores the need for strategies to attract more international travelers.
Global Tourism Trends vs. U.S. Decline
While the U.S. faces a drop in foreign visitors, global tourism saw overall growth in 2025, with 1.52 billion international tourists worldwide, a 4% increase year-on-year. However, U.S. inbound tourism continues to decline. For example, European arrivals to the U.S. fell by 17% in March 2025, as travelers opted for more affordable or closer destinations. The data shows that despite global recovery, the U.S. is losing ground as an international destination. This drop in visitor numbers is affecting major sectors, including hospitality, retail, and services, which rely heavily on tourism spending.
Regional and Monthly Travel Fluctuations
Visitor numbers have varied significantly by region. In Western Europe, travel to the U.S. declined sharply, with inbound visits dropping by 17% in the early part of 2025. In addition, overseas arrivals to the U.S. continued to decrease in later months of 2025, with September arrivals down by 7.7% compared to the same month in 2024. This ongoing decrease in foreign visits shows that U.S. tourism faces a long road to recovery, especially from key markets in Europe, where travel has been hit hardest.
Tourism’s Economic Contribution in the U.S.
Despite the decline in international visitors, the tourism industry remains a vital part of the U.S. economy. In 2024, travel and tourism generated approximately $2.9 trillion in economic output and supported 15 million jobs across various sectors. However, the decline in international visitation has impacted these numbers, and the sector is now focusing on domestic travel growth to offset the international decline. U.S. tourism boards and businesses are adjusting their strategies to attract visitors back from both international and domestic markets.
New data shows that Canada, Mexico, the UK, Iceland, France, Switzerland, and other key markets have contributed to an 8% drop in U.S. air travel, driven by economic challenges, rising costs, shifting travel patterns, and evolving government policies.
What Does This Mean for U.S. Travel?
The data from Canada, Mexico, the UK, Iceland, France, and Switzerland presents a concerning outlook for U.S. air travel. These countries have been major contributors to the drop in international passenger numbers, reflecting a broader shift in global travel trends. The eight percent decline in foreign air traffic shows that U.S. airlines and tourism boards will need to implement strategies to rebuild travel demand.
As global travel recovers from the pandemic, U.S. tourism authorities and airlines must focus on enticing international passengers back to U.S. destinations. From offering travel incentives to adjusting flight pricing, there are several avenues that can be explored to reverse these declines and stimulate tourism growth once again.
