OTTAWA — StatCan’s latest numbers show that Canadian-resident return trips from the U.S., by car and by air, totalled 1.9 million in October 2026, up 3% year over year. 

It was the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year growth and follows an 6.8% increase in September 2026. It’s also the third month in a row for increases for both car and air travel stateside from Canada.

Canadians’ return trips from the U.S. by car in October 2026 vs. October 2025 were up 2.2% (but still 29% lower than in October 2024).

Most importantly for travel advisors and the retail travel trade, Canadians’ return trips from the U.S. by air in October 2026 vs. October 2025 were also up, by 5.6% (and down 19.6% compared to October 2024). 

Canadian-resident return trips from overseas countries by air totalled 1 million in October 2026, a 0.5% increase from the same month last year.

Canada will end 2026 with a 3% year over year drop in visitation to the U.S., according to Brand USA. Canadian market data, travel intentions and more were shared at Brand USA’s board of directors meeting this week.