Summary:
- Airline capacity from Canada to Las Vegas has fallen to its lowest level since 2006.
- Political tensions and airline cutbacks are pushing Canadian travelers to other destinations.
- New international routes, including Air France service from Paris, offer some relief.
Airline capacity from Canada to Las Vegas has dropped to its lowest point since 2006, and there is little sign of a quick rebound. That was the blunt message delivered to Las Vegas tourism officials this week, as political tension and airline financial troubles continue to weigh on travel plans.
200,000 Fewer Seats to Sin City
Joel Van Over, senior director at Ailevon Pacific Aviation Consulting, informed the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board that Canadian airlines are currently offering about 200,000 fewer seats to the city.
The pullback, he further explained, comes as many Canadians, many of which are fans of Sin City’s gambling venues, choose to vacation elsewhere, as a result of the Trump administration’s new trade rhetoric.
Canadians have started to shy away from the United States. If you’re Canadian and doing business in the United States, you continue to travel, but if you have a choice, discretionary or leisure, you may decide to go elsewhere.
Those travelers are not staying home, as many are heading to Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia instead.
While seat capacity from Canada went up constantly almost on a monthly basis in 2024, that trend reversed sharply in 2025. The first quarter was weak, summer did not recover, and winter got even worse. By year’s end, capacity was down about 35%, a level that could slip further in 2026.
“It’s going to take a while to claw back from this”, Van Over said, noting that Las Vegas is feeling the impact of decisions made far beyond its control.
Higher Fees Are Not Doing Vegas Any Good
International travel outside of Canada has been uneven as well. Capacity rose steadily through 2024, with direct international traffic up 17%.
In 2025, growth faded after January and declined through November. Van Over pointed to rising fees and tougher rhetoric as factors that may be discouraging overseas visitors.
We’re being a bit more unwelcoming to our overseas friends.That is compounding with global rhetoric.
However, some positive news emerged as wel, with Air France announcing it will launch nonstop service to Las Vegas three times a week starting in April, running through January 2027.
“This is a huge win for Las Vegas” Van Over said, adding that European travelers tend to spend more and help fill midweek hotel rooms.
Overall seat capacity nearly reached record levels set in 2024, despite ending 2025 down 3.5%. Van Over described it as a year that started strong before airlines cut back later on. Struggles at low-cost carriers, especially Spirit and Frontier, had a lot to do with it.
Even so, the American capital of gambling remains one of the fastest-growing aviation markets since 2019, with airlines continuing to add routes and bet on the destination’s long-term appeal.
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