Rise in American Departures Observed at Ottawa Airfield as Per Data
In the first half of 2025, the Ottawa airport has seen a significant increase in passengers traveling to and from the United States, with a 7% rise compared to the same period last year. This anomaly contrasts with a broader Canadian trend of declining trips to the U.S., which saw a 22% drop in Canadian residents returning from U.S. air travel in June 2025.
This unusual surge at Ottawa airport can be attributed to several factors. One of the key drivers is the strong demand for travel to key U.S. destinations from Ottawa, particularly Florida and Washington D.C. Despite some reduced flight services by Air Canada to Florida cities, property owners who maintain winter residences in Florida ("snowbirds") continue to travel, sustaining demand.
Another contributing factor is the expansion of Porter Airlines' seasonal and year-round routes from Ottawa to Florida locations such as Fort Myers, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. This increased winter flight capacity and the provision of alternative options likely contribute to the increase in travel.
Ongoing business and trade activities related to Washington D.C. travel may also support consistent passenger volumes despite political tensions between Canada and the U.S. under President Trump’s administration. These tensions have led to overall lower Canada-U.S. travel volumes elsewhere.
While the overall Canadian trend is a decline in travel to the U.S., Ottawa’s specific travel patterns driven by strong seasonal markets and airline route adjustments have resulted in a rise in transborder passenger numbers at the Ottawa airport.
The winter schedules of airlines show reductions in service to U.S. sun destinations, indicating a softening of leisure travel. Travel consultant Elliot Finkelman suggests that Porter Airlines' increasing direct flights to the U.S. may be contributing to the increase in flights at the Ottawa airport.
So far this year, there were 2,389,041 trips through Ottawa, including 1,702,152 domestic passengers and 280,103 international travellers. In all of 2024, there were 741,449 passengers leaving and arriving from the U.S. at the Ottawa airport.
The Ottawa Airport Authority's spokesperson, Krista Kealey, notes a softening of leisure travel, which may explain the decline in travel by automobile from the United States, down 33% compared to the same time in 2024. Canadian residents returning from travel to the U.S. by air was also down 22% in June 2025 compared to the same time in 2024.
In conclusion, while the overall Canadian trend is a decline in travel to the U.S., Ottawa airport is bucking this trend with an increase in transborder travel. This increase can be attributed to strong demand for travel to key U.S. destinations, Porter Airlines' expanding routes, and ongoing business and trade activities related to Washington D.C. travel.
The rise in travel from Ottawa to key U.S. destinations, such as Florida and Washington D.C., is one of the main reasons for the increase in passengers at the Ottawa airport, contrasting the broader Canadian trend. This surge in travelers is also due to the expansion of Porter Airlines' routes to Florida locations and the ongoing business and trade activities related to Washington D.C. travel.
