Delta Air Lines Fights Back Against Canadian Boycotts With More Flight Cuts

Airlines Reassessing Travel Routes Amid Canadian-U.S. Boycott

As the Canadian population increasingly avoids travel to the United States, several airlines are adjusting their operations to reflect this shift in demand. This trend has been particularly noticeable among major carriers like WestJet and Air Canada, which have begun to scale back services between the two countries.

WestJet has taken a proactive approach by canceling several key routes. Recent cancellations include flights from Victoria to Las Vegas, Ottawa to Fort Myers, and Winnipeg to Los Angeles. These changes signal a broader strategy of reducing transborder connections as Canadian travelers opt for alternative destinations.

Air Canada is following a similar pattern. The airline has cut back on U.S. trips while focusing on expanding its services to other international locations. One notable development is the airline's recent expansion to Italy, which was praised for aligning with customer preferences. Air Canada has also strengthened its partnership with ITA Airways through a new codeshare agreement, offering more options for travelers connecting between Canada and Italy.

However, this expansion hasn’t extended to the U.S. Instead, the focus has shifted away from transborder travel. Major U.S. airlines, including Delta Air Lines, have also reduced their presence in Canada. Delta, one of the world’s largest carriers, has seen a noticeable drop in bookings between Canada and the U.S., prompting a strategic adjustment.

Delta Air Lines Scaling Back Operations

Delta Air Lines, known for its extensive global network, has reported a 4.4% decrease in transborder routes between April and June 2025. Several high-traffic routes have been affected, including Atlanta to Toronto, Detroit to Calgary, and Minneapolis to Vancouver. Other airlines, such as United, have also made similar adjustments, canceling planned routes like Los Angeles to Toronto and trimming service between Washington, D.C. and cities in Canada.

Delta President Glenn Hallenstein acknowledged the decline in bookings during a conference call, stating, “In Canada, we have seen a significant drop-off in bookings. So, we’re navigating through those waters and I think we will be looking at Canada and Mexico as places that we probably want to reduce our capacity levels as we move forward.”

The impact of these changes is felt across multiple Canadian cities, including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec City, and Halifax. Montreal and Quebec City have experienced the most significant declines in travel to the U.S.

New Cancellations and Seasonal Adjustments

In addition to scaling back Canadian routes, Delta has also suspended service from New York-JFK to Tel Aviv. This decision, however, is not due to political tensions but rather a temporary pause lasting through the summer months, from June 12th to August 31st. Delta cited safety as a primary concern and issued travel waivers to affected passengers.

The airline communicated its decision through a statement, emphasizing its commitment to customer and crew safety: “The safety of our customers and crew remains our top priority. Delta is continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing our operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports. Updates will be communicated as needed.”

At the same time, Delta is introducing new seasonal routes within the U.S. Starting December 20th, 2025, the airline will launch additional domestic services from major hubs such as Atlanta, New York, Austin, and Minneapolis. These routes aim to meet growing demand for travel within the country.

Expanding International Reach

Delta has also made significant investments in its Los Angeles (LAX) hub. The airline plans to launch daily service to Hong Kong starting June 6th, 2026, followed by three new daily flights to Chicago O’Hare on June 7th, 2026. Paul Baldoni, Senior Vice President of Network Planning, highlighted the importance of these routes: “Launching service to Hong Kong and Chicago from LAX strengthens our presence in two of the world’s most dynamic markets.”

These developments indicate that Delta is shifting its focus toward international and domestic travel, rather than transborder routes. With continued reductions in Canadian travel, this strategic direction is expected to remain unchanged in the near future.