Here’s what Canadian March break travellers need to know

Airline passengers wait in long lines to get through the TSA security screening at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)

The busy spring travel season is in full swing in Canada, with millions of students across the country set to take their March breaks next week.

But new data suggests many Canadians are reconsidering trips to some of the most popular March break destinations, and those headed to the U.S. may be in for long wait times amid a partial government shutdown south of the border that’s already causing delays for travellers passing through American airports.

Avoiding destinations

Ongoing trade tensions between Ottawa and Washington prompted some in Canada to avoid travel to the U.S. altogether, a new survey from Nanos Research for CTV News suggests. It found 43 per cent of Canadians are less likely to travel to the U.S. this year compared to 2025.

For many Canadians, “the U.S. is not on the radar in terms of a travel destination,” said Nanos Research founder Nik Nanos.

But for others, the U.S. is seen as one of a diminished number of travel options, given the challenges currently being faced by other popular destinations for Canadian vacationers.

Travel agents in the Greater Toronto Area told The Canadian Press that economic and political uncertainty in Cuba, fear of violence in Mexico and the impact of a devastating hurricane in Jamaica have forced many people to change their plans, with some deciding to simply stay put this year.

One agent said Florida and the Dominican Republic are “absorbing the bulk of the redirected business,” with some European destinations like Greece and Portugal emerging as alternatives.

Long U.S. airport lines

Canadians headed for Florida or any other U.S. destinations may be in for increased wait times, as a partial U.S. government shut down is leading to long lines at airport security, CNN reported this week.

And delays could get worse next week when many of the country’s schools and universities also let out for their spring breaks. Airports in Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta and Charlotte were hit hardest by delays this week, according to CNN.

Canadian airport updates

CTVNews.ca reached out to several Canadian airports that service U.S. destinations asking if they were experiencing any abnormal delays at customs desks due to the U.S. shutdown. None reported any major delays so far.

“However, we do anticipate an increase in passenger traffic across all sectors with spring break beginning next week, which can result in longer security lines in general,” said Jessica Kinney, communications and marketing advisor at the Halifax International Airport Authority.

Travellers are advised to frequently check on the status of their flights and overall delays via airport webpages.

Tips for travel to Canada

For those travelling into Canada for March break, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminded travellers to plan ahead in a press release earlier this week.

“As you prepare for your travels,” it read, “knowing what you need to enter Canada will help ensure a smoother border crossing experience while also giving CBSA officers more time to focus on stopping dangerous goods and inadmissible people.”