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Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
WestJet halts many US flights as Canadians say ‘no' to Trump's America
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Canada's second-largest airline, WestJet Airlines , announced that it is suspending nine of its US routes due to a significant decline in demand. Their announcement was attributed to cancellations due to a combination of political tensions and a growing reluctance among Canadians to travel to the United States Among the affected flights is a new route between Vancouver and Austin, which was supposed to begin next week. Now, this service is delayed until at least October impacted routes include direct flights between Calgary and New York , Edmonton and Chicago, and Kelowna and Seattle Josh Yeats, spokesperson for WestJet, stated that the airline is closely monitoring market conditions.'WestJet continuously evaluates and adjusts its schedule to meet demand, and we remain committed to reviewing opportunities for direct service on these routes,' he said, 'WestJet continuously evaluates and adjusts its schedule based on demand,' underlining the airline's adaptability in a changing many Canadians, summer travel plans are now shaped less by price or convenience and more by politics. US President Donald Trump 's repeated rhetoric and claims that Canada should be annexed as the 51st state are seen as a threat to Canadian trade disputes add another level of tension and appear to be influencing travel behavior, with more Canadians opting to travel within their own country or to international destinations instead of the major carrier, Air Canada , has also reported a slowdown in US flight bookings. To adapt, it has redirected its focus toward expanding services to Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In March, they announced that reservations for transborder flights between Canada and the US for the April–September travel season had decreased by 10 per cent year over airlines are increasing domestic flights and exploring new European a result, WestJet is adjusting its strategy to focus on domestic flights and European destinations, where demand remains strong. The airline has introduced new services to destinations like Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona from Halifax, providing Canadians with more options beyond the US.A recent survey by the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada revealed that 88 per cent of Canadians now prefer road trips within Canada rather than venturing into the disruptions and changing behaviour underscore the significant influence that political rhetoric and international relations can have on consumer behavior.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canadians are trading travel to the US for South America instead, WestJet Airlines says
According to WestJet Airlines, Canadians choose South America over the US as travel bookings dip. A 10% drop in Canadian visits could cost the US $2.1 billion and 14,000 jobs. The trade war may be just one of many factors why Canadians are staying away from US travel. The vice chair of Canada's second-largest airline says Canadians are avoiding the US as a travel destination in favor of South American countries. "There's clearly been a reaction," WestJet's Alex Cruz told CNBC's Squawk Box Europe co-host Karen Tso last week when asked if the Trump trade war has dented Canadians' willingness to visit the US. "What we are seeing, though, is people changing their destinations. It's no longer Phoenix or Florida. It's the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico." "Canadians are seeking to continue to travel overall, it's just they may shift from the US," he added. Avoidance of US goods and services above the northern border came after Trump repeatedly instated and paused a 25% tariff on Canadian products. Trump also, on many occasions, suggested that the northern neighbor become America's 51st state. Not only are US-made goods now being boycotted in Canada and pulled off grocery store shelves, but travel by passenger cars — a common way for Canadians to reach the US — in February shed roughly half a million crossings in comparison to February 2024 and hit its lowest monthly number since April 2022, according to data from the Customs and Border Protection. If the downward trend continues, the US tourism industry could face serious consequences. The US Travel Association told Business Insider that while they don't have a current estimate for changes in visitation from Canada if inbound visitation from the north declined by just 10%, it could mean 2 million fewer visits, $2.1 billion in lost spending, and 14,000 job losses. "We're already seeing the first signs that Canadian sentiment toward the US is changing in a not-so-positive way," Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International, a market research consultancy specializing in the travel tourism industry, recently told BI. "Anecdotally, we're seeing bookings from Canada to the US down," he added. Shirley Horn, the board secretary and treasurer of the Highway 120 Chamber of Commerce near Yosemite National Park, said international visitors, including Canadians, do not seem to be choosing Yosemite this year. She said this was partly due to the uncertainty around cuts at national parks. "Normally, the international visitors would reserve way ahead of time, and now we're seeing the impact of tariffs," she said, adding, "Canadians are making a statement." Some Canadians also told BI that they would remain wary of going to the US, even if the trade war eventually goes away, over issues like the ICE deportation of immigrants and the threats of annexation. "Even if the tariffs issue ends or if there's another president in four years, some Canadians are saying, 'Once bitten, twice shy,'" Pearl Whamond, a Canadian mom who used to travel to the US often, said. "There have been too many threats and too much back-and-forth. It feels like bullying, it feels threatening, and as a country, we're not appreciating it." WestJet did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider
Washington Post
21-02-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Canada's quiet patriotism is on fire
An old friend, and fellow retired journalist, recently told me about how she just, for the first time, started flying a Canadian flag outside her home — something I did as well. We're not alone: One Canadian flagmaker reported that its sales had doubled. Putting up a flag gave her pause to consider our quiet nation. As she told me, 'We whisper our patriotism and store our passion for Canada within the blood of our veins.' In the past few weeks, the actions and rhetoric of U.S. leaders have set that blood on fire. President Donald Trump's vicious barrage of insults, mockery and outright threats have us fed up. Some Canadians have taken to boycotting American products. Meanwhile, grocery stores are adjusting their orders to pivot away from American products, importing those that aren't available from domestic producers from countries other than the United States and denoting goods that come from Canada as a part of the 'Buy Canadian' movement. During a recent shopping trip, I chose oranges from Spain, and judging by the three overflowing bins filled with various American oranges, other shoppers were making similar decisions. The Canadian government is bracing for the possible imposition of U.S. tariffs by working to ramp up domestic production, develop new trade agreements with other nations and financially support impacted sectors. My potato chips? Miss Vickie's from Kitchener, Ontario. My snack cakes? Jos Louis from the Vachon company in Quebec. Travel plans? WestJet Airlines, Canada's second-largest airline, said demand for travel to the United States had dropped 25 percent over a recent week, given the threat of U.S. tariffs, which haven't even begun. Air Canada also plans to reduce service to the United States. To any Americans who choose to visit Canada in coming months: I cannot promise even grudging politeness. I've been tempted to buy spray paint and cover any American-plated vehicle I see. I won't because I'm Canadian. But if you keep pushing, I can't promise a thing. There's a saying circulating on the internet these days: 'Canadians have two settings: 'I'm sorry.' And 'You'll be sorry.'' Judy Waytiuk, Winnipeg, Manitoba Two impressions of Canada I took a half dozen vacations to Canada with my late wife. One of our first impressions was surprise at the existence of a chain of historic forts, all oriented to stop invasions by the United States. On a subsequent visit, we arrived in Ottawa a few days after 9/11. We visited the American Embassy just to see its architecture, which — to our astonishment — was surrounded by Canadians. Were they protesting? As we got closer, we saw the entire front sidewalk covered with flowers, posters and candles. I recall one sign declared 'America our best friend' and another modified John F. Kennedy's famous statement in Berlin to say 'Ich Bin Ein American.' The embassy's staff had posted a note thanking people for their contributions and stating that there was no more space available. Instead, they could come into the embassy and sign the guest register. Those hardy Canadians just kept on coming. Later we sat in the visitors section of the Canadian Parliament to observe a session dedicated to discussing what Canada could do to help the United States. I remember that the support expressed for our country by the assembled legislators was unanimous. Canada is a magnificent country with its own culture, economy and political system. Its soldiers fought valiantly in both world wars as well as many other conflicts. Its natural environment is magnificent. I dearly hope that Canada will not feel that it has to build a new series of forts to ward off President Donald Trump. Michael S. McGill, Alexandria Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Pride and independence I read Chrystia Freeland's Jan. 20 op-ed, 'America, don't doubt Canada's resolve,' with interest. Two assertions in her essay stood out: 'Canadians are proud and independent,' and, 'If you hit us, we will hit back — and our blows will be precisely targeted.' My experience tells me to believe her assertions. In 2012, I presented at a conference sponsored by the Archives Association of Ontario in Toronto. The conference, titled 'Conflict and Commemoration,' was centered on the bicentennial of the War of 1812. During the war, Canadians endured repeated invasions from the United States, but each invasion ended with an American withdrawal. During one in April 1813, U.S. forces burned parts of York, the capital of Upper Canada (now known as Toronto), destroying the parliament, the government house, other public buildings and private homes. The British army then defeated the American Army in Bladensburg, Maryland, in August 1814 and burned parts of D.C. in revenge. I gained a keen sense of Canadian national identity from this conference. Archivists preserve, organize and make available records that, among other things, help retain national identity. Canada has a strong archival system in part because the Canadian national identity is strong. My grandfather joined the Canadian army during World War I. Tracing his service, I learned from a 2018 article in the National Post that Canadian soldiers had a reputation during a war of unparalleled ferocity as particularly fierce soldiers. The article quoted war correspondent Philip Gibbs, who had written that 'Canadians fought the Germans with a long, enduring, terrible, skillful patience.' An inexact analogy to what Freeland wrote, to be sure. But there are similarities, nonetheless. Freeland, however, also approved of what President Ronald Reagan once said of the U.S.-Canadian relationship: 'We are kin, who together have built the most productive relationship between any two countries in the world.' But things can get especially nasty between kin. Canada is a proud, independent nation. What we give to Canada, we will get in return. Jim Cassedy, Hyattsville Two can play at this game Guns smuggled from the United States fuel violent crime in Canada and Mexico. Here is a modest suggestion to the governments of Canada and Mexico: Announce the immediate suspension of all cooperation with the United States on immigration, crime and drug enforcement until the United States stops the flow of illegal firearms into their countries. Keith Kozloff, Takoma Park Boo-worthy conduct Regarding the Feb. 2 Sports article 'Canadian sports fans are booing the U.S. national anthem after Trump tariffs': As a Canadian who has lived and studied in the United States and maintains valued relationships with many Americans, I was embarrassed and dismayed by the actions of fellow Canadians who booed the American anthem at recent sporting events. While all of us are deeply concerned about the negative effects of President Donald Trump's threat to impose destabilizing tariffs on the Canadian economy, we cannot tolerate the type of disrespectful behaviors exhibited by these so-called patriots. The booing of our closest friends and allies — a nation of people to whom we are highly indebted for military protection and trade — is never an appropriate response to a diplomatic conflict between our two governments. To my fellow Canadians, I would warn you to beware Trump's intended traps of division. The smaller we appear, the greater his victory. At a time when we badly need our friends in the United States (in the same way we like to imagine they still feel some need of us), we should be taking steps to reinforce bridges, not build new barriers. To all Americans, I would part with a familiar Canadianism: I'm sorry. Wilfred M. Hugh Barnett, Toronto Story continues below advertisement Advertisement What Canada gave me You often hear that people don't value what they have until it's gone. In my case, as unlikely as it may be, it's the thought of losing my identity as a Canadian. I was born and raised in Canada, and this country has given me opportunities I would never have gotten had I been born in Pakistan, the birthplace of my parents. Canada has given me easy access to education, the resources to build a career, the freedom to practice my faith as an Ahmadi Muslim and the assurance of free health care. We Canadians tend to not put our patriotism on display as people of other nations do, and this can maybe be attributed to our nonchalant attitude. We're a laid-back bunch and don't always voice our true emotions. We're quick to apologize and tend to move past things. However, when President Donald Trump suggested that we become the 51st state of the United States, it made me feel love, pride, gratitude, disappointment and anger: I love my country; I am proud of being a Canadian; I am grateful for all that this land has given me; I am disappointed in Trump's irresponsible and inflammatory comments; and I am angry that someone has threatened my home and is attempting to strong-arm our government through tariffs. Canada is also going through a turbulent political climate. There is a clear divide among its citizens about the direction we should take going forward and who should be at the helm. Regardless, we should stand united against any and all threats. This country is my country, and I say to my dear nation, 'O Canada, I stand on guard for thee.' Blawal Aleem, Vaughan, Ontario
