OTTAWA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Canada's second-largest airline, WestJet, is pausing nine routes between the United States and Canada as demand dampens for travel between the two countries, local media reported Thursday.
According to CBC News, flights from Canadian cities to U.S. cities of Austin, Los Angeles and Chicago are among those impacted.
"WestJet continuously evaluates and adjusts its schedule to meet demand, and we remain committed to reviewing opportunities for direct service on these routes in the future," a spokesperson was quoted as saying.
WestJet announced in April that it would add new domestic routes within Canada and make it easier to connect with flights to Europe.
The changes came as fewer Canadians travel south amid trade-related tensions, and as U.S. President Donald Trump continues using annexationist rhetoric toward Canada, which he has repeatedly said should be the 51st state of the United States, said the report.
According to Statistics Canada, in March 2025, Canadian residents flew back from 719,500 trips to the United States, which represented a 13.5 percent decline from the same month in 2024.
Amid the tariff war with the United States, the Canadian government is encouraging Canadian consumers to shop and travel within Canada. ■