Early booking data reveals a decisive shift: Canadians are turning away from U.S. destinations and rediscovering their own backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New data from FlightHub, the Canadian online travel agency, shows that Canadians are locking in summer 2026 travel plans earlier than ever. Between March 1 and April 21, 2026, bookings surged 36 per cent compared to the same period in 2025 \u2014 a powerful signal of strong travel intent despite rising costs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Behind this early booking surge lies a fundamental change in where Canadians actually want to go. Early bookings for trips within Canada increased from 36 per cent in 2025 to 44 per cent in 2026 \u2014 an eight percentage point jump. In contrast, travel to the United States saw a slight decline, dropping from 14 per cent to 13 per cent.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing a redistribution of Canadian travel spending,\u201d says Chris Lynes, Managing Director of Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. \u201cWhile U.S. travel has softened, outbound travel to other international destinations and interest in domestic trips has strengthened.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n The shift appears to be influenced in part by rising airfare, particularly for U.S. routes. According to FlightHub, domestic airfare rose 15 per cent in 2026, with average round-trip prices increasing from