Greater Palm Springs is heading into its peak season with a much softer Canadian air travel market than the airport has seen in years. Fresh data from Palm Springs International Airport shows that traffic from Canada has fallen across the board, and airlines are already trimming seats that normally fuel the region’s winter economy.
According to data presented at the Palm Springs Airport Commission’s November 19 meeting, Canadian passenger arrivals over the summer and early fall showed pronounced declines. In August, the decline was 27.31 percent; in September, it was 42.05 percent, the steepest drop; and in October, it was 29.82 %. The commission’s report cites the data source as the airlines serving Canadian passengers at PSP.
The number of Canadian arrival flights is also down noticeably from last year. For November, PSP expects 15 fewer Canadian flights, a 10.84 percent decline, and 3,416 fewer scheduled arriving seats, dropping from 31,524 in 2024 to 28,108 in 2025. In December, the airport anticipates 12 fewer flights, a 7.33 percent decline, and 2,457 fewer seats, with scheduled arriving seats slipping from 33,513 in 2024 to 31,056 in 2025. The reduction in flights for the month equates to roughly 0.8 per day.
According to the airlines, the downward pressure will continue into early 2026. January is forecast to bring five fewer flights, a 5.97 percent decline, along with 1,978 fewer seats, shifting from 33,142 seats in 2025 to 31,164 in 2026. February projections show the sharpest contraction of the season with 25 fewer flights (a 17.11 percent decline) and 6,165 fewer scheduled seats, moving from 36,029 in 2025 to 29,864 in 2026.
Taken together, the data reflect a sustained and significant weakening of a market that has been central to Palm Springs tourism for decades.
A nationwide pullback
The situation in Palm Springs mirrors a broader national shift. Statistics Canada reports that Canadian air travel to the United States fell 10.5 percent year over year in September, the eighth straight month of decline. Surveys from Longwoods International show Canadian intent to travel to the United States dropping by 19 percent in the first half of 2025. Canadian agencies report steep reductions in U.S. leisure bookings, with one major firm citing a 40 percent fall in February compared with the previous year.
California has been hit hard. Statewide reports show Canadian arrivals falling more than 15 percent earlier in the year. And other resort destinations that rely on Canadian winter travel, including Las Vegas, the Gulf Coast, and parts of Arizona, are seeing similar patterns.
Why Canadians are staying home or going elsewhere
Sentiment among Canadian travelers has shifted. Surveys show that 63 percent of Canadians are now less likely to visit the United States due to political or policy concerns. Cost pressures matter too. The Canadian dollar has weakened, and smaller airports like PSP often carry higher fares. As a result, many Canadians are redirecting their travel spending. Among those reconsidering U.S. trips, 42 percent now plan to travel within Canada instead, and 30 percent are choosing international destinations outside the United States.
There are also growing concerns about the border experience. Some Canadians have publicly shared cancellations of long-planned U.S. trips, citing discomfort with the current political climate, including travelers who cancelled multi-thousand-dollar Palm Springs stays.
A serious hit to a key market
The Coachella Valley has long been a winter hub for Canadian visitors, many of whom stay for extended periods. This makes the drop in arrivals more than a routine swing. Long-stay travelers tend to spend more on lodging, dining, shopping, recreation, and seasonal rentals. They also often own homes in the area, supporting service providers throughout the valley.
With Canadian arrivals falling by 38.9 percent, 27.31 percent, and 42.05 percent across July, August, and September, the concern is not limited to the airport. These numbers represent thousands of travelers who would normally spend a lot of money at hotels, restaurants, and seasonal neighborhoods throughout the valley.
A turning point for local strategy
Tourism officials and airport leaders are already working to counter the trend. Palm Springs has increased its Canadian-focused messaging, and Visit Greater Palm Springs is reviewing its winter campaigns. Airport officials note that while total seat capacity from all airlines is growing, the erosion in the Canadian segment remains a strategic concern.
The Coachella Valley may now need to expand domestic outreach, diversify international markets, and strengthen its appeal to Canadians by offering clearer value propositions and providing reassurance about the travel experience.
The good news
Despite the drop in Canadian traffic, PSP is heading into the winter season with more total seats available across all airlines than it offered in previous years. The increase shows that while one market has softened, overall demand for Palm Springs remains strong.
For December 2025, the airport is scheduled to have 466,678 total seats, which is an increase of 4.19 percent over December 2024’s 447,921 seats and well above the 412,779 seats available in December 2023.
The outlook for early 2026 is even stronger. In January 2026, airlines plan to offer 507,590 seats, a 5.48 percent increase from the 481,221 seats scheduled for January 2025, and comfortably ahead of the 474,180 seats available in January 2024. February shows a similar rise. The airport anticipates 511,665 seats for February 2026, up 3.75 percent from 493,165 seats in February 2025 and higher than the 477,646 seats offered in February 2024.
These gains suggest that airlines remain confident in the broader Palm Springs market. Domestic routes continue to perform well, and carriers have added enough capacity systemwide to more than counterbalance reductions in Canada-origin flights. While the dip in Canadian travel is real, the airport is entering its busiest months with more seats to sell and more opportunities to draw travelers from across the United States.
