United Airlines Bravely Challenges Canada’s U.S. Travel Boycott In Its Latest Announcement Of Brand-New Routes
United Airlines has just announced 14 new routes, which are primarily domestic options in the United States. However, two of its new seasonal flights will operate between the U.S. and Canada for the spring and summer travel period.
The carrier’s decision to launch two new Canada-U.S. routes could represent a brave move, especially at a time when the number of Canadians traveling to the USA continues to decline sharply, with no clear signs of recovery following their lengthy U.S. travel boycott that has held strong since early 2025.
United Has Added New Canada–U.S. Routes Despite Declining Canadian Travel Demand
Despite the fall in Canadian visits to America, stemming from Canada’s travel boycott of the U.S., United Airlines has confirmed it will launch two new routes that will fly between the two countries.
United will operate a nonstop service between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) from May 23 through September 19. It will also run a new route between Washington Dulles and Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) from May 23 through October 24. Both routes will be operational during peak travel months.
The routes were first announced on Instagram by Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances.
The carrier’s announcement comes at a time when cross-border travel patterns between Canada and the U.S. are becoming less predictable, raising questions about what United is betting on with this brave expansion.
United’s New U.S.-Canada Routes Could Be Risky Amid Lowered Demand For Travel To The U.S.
Canadian travel to the United States has declined notably over the past year. Many Canadian travelers are increasingly opting for destinations such as Mexico and Europe rather than visiting the U.S. amid tensions that initially sparked following President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada and his suggestion that Canada should become America’s “51st state.”
That shift is reflected in official tourism data. Canadian travelers accounted for approximately 28% of all international visitors to the United States in 2024. However, figures from the U.S. Travel Association show that the share has fallen to roughly 23% year to date, from January to October 2025, signaling a meaningful reduction in inbound travel from Canada.
That leaves a question: why would United make such a bold move that could be risky during Canada’s U.S. travel boycott?
What Is United Airlines Betting On With Its New U.S.-Canada Routes?
The airline’s brave decision could be strategic; it might be positioning itself to benefit if cross-border travel sentiment improves in 2026. Plus, these new U.S.-Canada routes are limited to summer, which enables United to test demand while minimizing long-term risk should Canadians’ travel demand to the U.S. not improve.
Ultimately, the airline is strengthening its network connectivity while selectively maintaining a presence in the Canada–U.S. market during peak months—the latter being an ideal time to test the strength of Canadians’ intention to visit America in 2026. But will it be a successful choice? Canadians’ online sentiment reveals it may be difficult to persuade them back into their previous U.S. travel habits.
Canadian Online Sentiment Mirrors The Declining U.S. Travel Trend
Beyond formal tourism data, Canadians’ travel discussions on social media and online forums suggest the downturn in U.S. travel extends beyond seasonal fluctuations.
For instance, in a recent Reddit discussion posted on January 14, 2026, users debated what some described as a growing reluctance among Canadians to travel to the U.S. Several Canadian commenters said friends and family were choosing to vacation domestically or visit other international destinations instead.
Some users also pointed to changes within long-standing snowbird communities. One commenter noted that some Canadians who traveled to the U.S. in 2025 did so not for leisure, but to sell property, close U.S. bank accounts, and finalize financial matters (this has been a noted trend in states like Arizona and Florida, where more Canadian snowbirds have been selling their second homes and reinvesting their money back into Canada).
Other people in the comments section also brought up higher expenses to visit the U.S. One example, according to one user, is the new higher costs to visit U.S. national parks.
“I live in Alberta and have visited Montana a bunch, it’s so beautiful. There’s a ton of hikes in Glacier that I would love to cross of my bucket list, but between the general state of things down there and the new $100 USD per person fee to visit the park, I’ll be exploring closer to home for the foreseeable future,” the user wrote.
Indeed, as of January 1, 2026, Canadians must pay triple the cost to visit 11 of America’s most popular national parks, as do all other international tourists.
Other common reasons for avoiding U.S. travel include uncertainty at the border; some Canadians have been anxious about new rules to enter America, like new fees, fingerprinting, and biometrics, which some experts argue violate Canadians’ constitutional protections.
Together, these kinds of discussions reinforce broader reporting that Canadian travel to the U.S. is no longer as consistent as it once was. That’s why airlines like United adding more Canada-U.S. routes could be viewed as risky.
Overall, for U.S. travelers, United’s new routes provide additional nonstop options to eastern Canada, which could reduce travel times by avoiding connections through larger hubs. They also give Canadians who aren’t boycotting the U.S. even more accessibility to their southern neighbor. Increased competition on these routes may also lead to lower fares for both Americans and Canadians during the summer.
Still, it’ll be interesting to see if United’s gamble succeeds. Ultimately, the performance of these new routes will offer insight into whether Canadian travel to the United States stabilizes. As the busy spring and summer travel seasons approach, booking trends will indicate whether United’s expansion aligns with traveler demand or if ongoing changes in cross-border travel behavior continue to reshape how Canadians and Americans move between the two countries.
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