US Ambassador Eyes Airport Pre-Clearance for Tourism Boost
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U.S. Threatens to Reassess Canadian Airport Preclearance Amidst Declining Usage
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Published september 26, 2025, at 00:11:04 EDT
The U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, indicated on Thursday, September 25, 2025, that Washington may reconsider airport preclearance operations in Canada due to falling passenger numbers. The warning came during a forum wiht Canadian business leaders in Banff, Alberta, and was described as a potential threat.
The warning from Ambassador Hoekstra
During the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alberta, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra stated that preclearance locations in Canada are seeing a decrease in usage. According to reports, Hoekstra framed the potential reassessment as a outcome if Canada doesn’t address the issue. it was like a threat,saying,all right,if you don’t come,we’re going to cut out pre-clearance,
a source reported.
Hoekstra emphasized the importance of understanding the reasons behind any potential changes. But it is something … that will cause hardship to a lot of Canadians if you were to proceed it that way,
he added.
Declining Cross-Border Air Travel
Data from Statistics Canada, released in August 2025, shows a significant drop in Canadians returning to Canada by air from the U.S. The number of travelers decreased by 25.4% compared to the same month in the previous year. This decline is a key factor driving the U.S. consideration of preclearance reassessment.
Current Preclearance Locations
U.S.Customs and Border Protection (CBP) currently operates preclearance facilities at the following Canadian airports:
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
- Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Ottawa International Airport (YOW)
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
Impact of Preclearance and Potential Consequences
Airport preclearance allows travelers to complete U.S. customs and immigration inspections in Canada before departing for the United States. This streamlines the arrival process in the U.S., reducing wait times and congestion at U.S. airports. removing preclearance would likely lead to longer wait times for Canadian travelers upon arrival in the U.S.and could perhaps impact tourism and business travel.
| Airport | 2024 Passengers Using Preclearance (Estimate) | 2025 Passengers Using Preclearance (Estimate) | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary (YYC) | 350,000 | 262,50 |