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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Porter Airlines announced two U.S. network changes for 2026: Toronto Pearson–Austin flights planned to start May 21, and a September 1 shift of its Chicago service from Midway to O’Hare, alongside new O’Hare–Billy Bishop Toronto City service. The plans contrast with WestJet’s announced cuts to U.S. flying, but neither airline’s moves alone tells the whole story of Canadian travel demand.
Which Canadian airline is adding U.S. routes?
It is Porter Airlines. In a February 20, 2026 report, AOL said Porter planned to launch Toronto Pearson–Austin service on May 21 and make a Chicago network change on September 1. These are announced schedule plans, not confirmation that flights are operating as planned; check Porter’s current schedule before booking. AOL’s report attributes the expansion to Porter’s effort to offer more destinations and connections, not to a stated decision to counter a boycott.
Toronto Pearson to Austin
Porter announced a Toronto Pearson (YYZ)–Austin (AUS) route with a planned start date of May 21, 2026. The cited report does not establish frequency, fares, aircraft, or current operating status.
Chicago: Midway to O’Hare, plus Billy Bishop
For September 1, 2026, Porter planned to move its Chicago service from Midway (MDW) to O’Hare (ORD) and add service between O’Hare and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). This is a change in airport and network connections, not simply an additional Chicago flight on the same route.
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How does Porter’s move compare with WestJet’s U.S. cuts?
WestJet announced a pullback while Porter announced additions and a Chicago airport shift. Their plans are not equivalent measures of capacity: Porter’s two reported changes cannot be directly weighed against WestJet’s route suspensions without comparable information on seats, frequency, and aircraft.
| Airline | Announced U.S. network plan | Timing | Stated context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter | Toronto Pearson–Austin planned; Chicago service planned to move from Midway to O’Hare, with O’Hare–Billy Bishop Toronto City service added. AOL’s report does not state capacity or frequency. | Austin: planned May 21, 2026; Chicago changes: planned September 1, 2026. | Porter executive Andrew Pierce, quoted by AOL, said the airline was adding destinations and flights that complement schedules and connect travelers through its hubs. |
| WestJet | 16 Canada–U.S. routes planned for suspension for summer 2026; WestJet also said it would reduce full-year transborder flying close to 10% and flying during historically peak periods by 15%. | Summer 2026 suspensions; reductions apply to WestJet’s announced 2026 plan. | WestJet cited a notable decline in transborder demand during 2025 and said it did not expect the trend to change in the foreseeable future. Global News reported the plan. |
The percentages and route count are WestJet’s announced plans as reported by Global News, not a tally of all Canadian airlines’ capacity changes. Porter’s announcement, as reported by AOL, does not establish that its expansion is a response to WestJet or to consumer politics.
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Are Canadians still avoiding travel to the United States?
Canadian travel to the U.S. declined substantially in 2025, but “boycott” is best understood as shorthand for an informal consumer backlash, not proof of a coordinated national campaign or a single cause. The Associated Press reported Statistics Canada figures showing Canadian residents made 25% fewer return border crossings and spent about C$3.3 billion less on U.S. travel in 2025 than in 2024. AP also said the decline appeared to ease somewhat in some summer months, while air travel remained below year-earlier levels through June 2026. Those figures describe a marked, time-bounded pullback—not that all Canadians stopped going or that the trend is permanent. AP’s account also reports that Statistics Canada analysts described a “persistent shift away from the United States by Canadian residents in their travel preferences.”
What may be behind the decline?
AP linked the pullback to political tensions and an informal consumer backlash, but also noted the weaker Canadian dollar and higher airfares and hotel prices. The travel totals show what changed; they do not isolate how much each factor contributed. WestJet separately cited lower transborder demand as its rationale for cutting routes. Porter’s reported explanation focused on network options and connections, with no stated claim that it was reacting to the backlash.
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What to check before planning a trip
- Confirm the airport. Porter’s Chicago plan changes the airport from Midway to O’Hare and adds a Billy Bishop connection; verify which Toronto airport and Chicago airport your itinerary uses.
- Verify dates and schedules. The cited announcement dates are plans. Check the airline’s current schedule for operating status, frequency, and any subsequent changes.
- Compare the full itinerary. The reported material does not establish fares, connection times, baggage rules, or route profitability, so review those details in the booking terms before choosing a flight.
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