The top tourist official from the Big Apple has received assurances that Air Canada’s cancellation of four flights to JFK International Airport is strictly temporary.
Julie Coker, President and CEO of New York City Tourism & Conventions, was in Toronto yesterday (29APR) talking up new projections showing some of the Trump-related decline in Canadian travel is softening. She also met with key partners and was reassured by what she heard from Air Canada, which as reported by Open Jaw had cancelled four flights to JFK earlier in the month.
“I met with Air Canada today. That was a temporary pause,” Coker told Open Jaw. “It’s starting in June and going to October. But AC still has 34 flights (to NYC a day). They are still heavily invested in our market and they do see this as a temporary pause.”
The airline, like others around the world, has cut some flights due to the fuel price spikes caused by the war in Iran. Coker said JFK was also targeted due to current construction at the airport.
There’s more good news for the travel trade: Canadian visits to NYC should be up 5.5% for 2026, according to Coker’s estimate. There’s still a big dip to overcome — Canadian travel to the city that never sleeps plummeted 19% in 2025, in the wake of US President Trump’s 51st state comments. (Almost a million Canadians visited in 2024, close to pre-COVID levels).
The projected rebound, said Coker, “we think is a combination of customer sentiment getting a little bit better for Canada in regards to the US. We think the (improvement) in the currency, the stabilization of tariffs, all of that is playing nicely.
“We do think business travel will continue to increase,” she added. “It’s still not back at pre-COVID levels. We also see meetings and events continuing to be a strong point for us. Where we’re seeing some weakness is leisure international travel. It’s not back yet.”
Based on anecdotal evidence, student and other groups have also been slower to bounce back, she added.
For travel advisors wanting to sell New York City, Coker advises taking advantage of the expert advice, property and attractions database, and chatbot offered by NYC Tourism & Conventions. And she added that July-August and January-February are shoulder seasons for the city, with many discounts to be had.
The FIFA World Cup will be a major draw to New York in the summer of 2026, with its dedicated fan village at Rockefeller Center. And many attractions, such as the Empire State Building and the Frick Collection, have undergone major renovations in recent years.
