WestJet has quietly trimmed ten trans-border routes from its network this year, and if you're in western Canada planning a US trip, it's worth knowing exactly what's gone. Canada's second-largest airline blames a combination of weak demand south of the border — fuelled by the ongoing trade war — and rising jet fuel costs for the cuts.
Edmonton has taken the biggest hit, losing five routes. Nonstop service to Nashville ends in January 2026 and won't be replaced by any other carrier; Seattle flights stop in April, though Alaska Airlines keeps that route going year-round; San Francisco also ends in April, with Air Canada continuing seasonal service. Atlanta goes in June and Chicago in October, both routes left without a WestJet presence — though United keeps seasonal Chicago flights going.
Vancouver, WestJet's westernmost base, loses three: the nonstops to Kauai's Lihue airport end in April, leaving that island route completely unserved; Boston also ends in April (JetBlue operates it seasonally); and Nashville goes in May, with Air Canada offering a seasonal alternative. Elsewhere, Toronto has lost its WestJet nonstop to Los Angeles as of April — Air Canada and Porter Airlines still fly that route year-round — and Winnipeg dropped Nashville in May, leaving the city with five US routes: Chicago, Denver and Minneapolis year-round, plus seasonal Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas.
The backdrop here is the 'elbows up' movement, a wave of Canadian pushback against US trade policy that has seen many travellers deliberately holiday at home or head elsewhere, hitting demand on cross-border routes hard. WestJet isn't alone in feeling it — the routes being cut were often ones launched only recently, some in partnership with Delta, and several lasted barely a season.
One genuine silver lining for anyone still flying these routes: every affected departure uses US Customs preclearance at the Canadian airport, so you clear American border formalities before you board and land as a domestic passenger. It's one of the smoother parts of Canada-US flying that won't disappear.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is simple: don't assume a nonstop you flew last year still exists. If you're in Edmonton or Winnipeg especially, options have narrowed — check whether you now need a connection via Calgary or Vancouver, or whether another airline (Alaska, United, Air Canada) still serves your city. Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Denver and Phoenix-type sun routes have generally held up better than secondary US cities like Nashville. The good news for WestJet customers is that the airline is still growing internationally, with an expanding European network from Halifax, Toronto and Calgary — so if the political mood has you looking beyond the US anyway, there are more options than ever.
