International air travel to and from the United States fell in June 2026, with a 1.6% decline compared to the same month the previous year. NTTO data showed the decrease resulted from fewer U.S. citizens flying abroad, while foreign arrivals rose slightly.
Foreign arrivals edge up, U.S. departures fall
The National Travel and Tourism Office recorded 24.6 million international air passenger enplanements in June 2026. The total included both arrivals and departures, but the overall balance shifted downward.
Arrivals of non-U.S. citizens reached 4.4 million, a 0.2% increase from June 2025. Overseas visitors—those staying at least one night under specific visa categories—declined 1.8% to 2.8 million. The most notable change came from U.S. citizens, with 8 million departing for foreign destinations, a 3.2% drop year-over-year.
The decline in outbound travel drove most of the overall reduction in international passenger numbers.
Regional travel patterns shift unevenly
Travel between the U.S. and Mexico remained the largest market but saw the sharpest decrease. The two countries exchanged 3.3 million passengers in June, a 6.1% drop from 2025. Canada, the second-busiest market, recorded 2.8 million passengers, a slight 0.2% increase.
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The United Kingdom, the third-largest partner, handled 2 million passengers, down 2.1%. The Dominican Republic stood out with a 3.3% rise, while Germany’s traffic fell 3.4%.
Regional trends showed small changes. Europe saw 8.2 million passengers, a 0.6% decline. South and Central America, including the Caribbean, dropped 2.3% to 5.8 million. Asia was the only region to grow, increasing 1.2% to 2.8 million passengers. The Middle East fell 3.6% to 1.1 million.
These changes highlight varying demand, with some routes holding steady while others weakened.
Airports on both sides of the border remained key hubs. New York’s JFK led U.S. gateways with 3 million international passengers, followed by Los Angeles and Miami, each with 2.1 million. Chicago and San Francisco completed the top five.
Across the Atlantic, London Heathrow managed 1.7 million passengers traveling to or from the U.S. Toronto and Cancun followed, with 1.1 million and 958,000 passengers, respectively. Paris and Mexico City also ranked among the busiest foreign airports.
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Data offers mixed signals for travel industry
The June figures suggest a guarded outlook. While foreign arrivals remained nearly stable, the drop in U.S. departures may indicate changing consumer behavior. Economic uncertainty, evolving vacation preferences, or other factors not reflected in the data could play a role.
Regional airlines and hotels have already adapted. Some carriers reduced flights to Mexico and Europe, while others added routes to growing destinations like the Dominican Republic and parts of Asia.
The NTTO will publish July data next month. The new figures may show whether June’s trends were temporary or the beginning of a longer shift.
Airport hubs continue to serve as critical connections for international trips.