South Florida’s air travel landscape is shifting as Frontier Airlines ramps up service at Miami International Airport (MIA), while Canadian carrier WestJet pulls back from U.S. routes in response to falling demand.
Denver-based Frontier recently launched three new nonstop routes from MIA: Austin and Washington Dulles on May 22, and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on May 24. The additions bring Frontier’s total to 24 nonstop destinations from Miami, underscoring its aggressive push in the South Florida market.
Meanwhile, Calgary-based WestJet is canceling nine transborder routes between Canada and the U.S., including its Calgary–Fort Lauderdale service and two routes to Orlando. The airline says it is responding to a 70% drop in Canadian bookings to the U.S., amid shifting travel preferences and geopolitical tensions. Many Canadian travelers are instead opting for flights to Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean—markets where WestJet is now redirecting capacity as part of a broader focus on long-haul and international growth.
South Florida’s air travel landscape is shifting as Frontier Airlines ramps up service at Miami International Airport (MIA), while Canadian carrier WestJet pulls back from U.S. routes in response to falling demand.
Denver-based Frontier recently launched three new nonstop routes from MIA: Austin and Washington Dulles on May 22, and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on May 24. The additions bring Frontier’s total to 24 nonstop destinations from Miami, underscoring its aggressive push in the South Florida market.
Meanwhile, Calgary-based WestJet is canceling nine transborder routes between Canada and the U.S., including its Calgary–Fort Lauderdale service and two routes to Orlando. The airline says it is responding to a 70% drop in Canadian bookings to the U.S., amid shifting travel preferences and geopolitical tensions. Many Canadian travelers are instead opting for flights to Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean—markets where WestJet is now redirecting capacity as part of a broader focus on long-haul and international growth.
The diverging strategies highlight changing demand patterns in South Florida’s competitive aviation sector. MIA remains a key hub, handling 55.9 million passengers in 2024—a 6.9% year-over-year increase. The airport contributes an estimated $118 billion annually to the local economy and supports roughly 700,000 jobs.
