How the US-Canada trade war affects flight deals and travel plans

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The growing sentiment to “buy Canadian” and boycott U.S. products is reaching new heights as travel plans are now feeling the shift amid the ongoing trade war.   Domestic carriers are readjusting flight plans to keep up with changing attitudes.   And, as Global’s Anne Gaviola explains, this trend may be a sign of things to come on the economic front.  For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/11080658/canadians-travel-us-trump/  Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on X HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews #USCanadaTrade #Travel

Transcript

00:00I didn't take it as a joke. For me, it was a very serious threat, and it was a very serious insult.

00:07Zina O'Keele changed her flight from Los Angeles to Cancun, Mexico, like many others, making a statement with her travel dollars.

00:15The constant jokes about annexing Canada, Canada being the 51st state,

00:22and that coming from the mouth of very high-level political leaders just put a very sour taste in my mouth, and the tariffs as well.

00:32A trend that's forced Canadian carriers to scrap some routes to the U.S. in favor of domestic destinations.

00:39Between the weak loonie and growing backlash against America, changing sentiment is forcing the tourism industry to recalibrate.

00:48Already a month and a half ago, Canada's airlines noticed a decrease in bookings,

00:53and in fact, one airline I know of was seeing more cancellations in one day than new bookings.

00:58With our core season really picking up around Victoria Day weekend in May, that's when we might start to actually see cancellations.

01:05One silver lining, discounts on domestic travel this spring.

01:09There's going to be good deals for consumers, but I think more than that, I think it's going to be great news for Canada's travel and tourism industry.

01:17This aviation analyst recommends choosing unique Canadian destinations that are off the beaten path.

01:23I've got to tell you, we've got some areas of the Northwest Territories, west of Yellowknife, Nahanni Federal Park Reserve, that are just, would blow you away.

01:33But the deals may not be enough to convince households and businesses to spend on travel during a period of heightened uncertainty.

01:41Business and consumer confidence on both sides of the border has been tanking.

01:47One thing to watch, a pullback on travel spending may be a sign of broader financial hardship.

01:53The travel industry, aviation in particular, always represents the leading edge of an economic slowdown or a recession.

02:00Anne Gaviola, Global News, Toronto.

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