U.S. international air traffic shifts: 15 winning and losing cities in the summer of 2025

The summer of 2025 brought turmoil in U.S. international tourism, with a persistent downturn in international tourist flow. During the typically busiest season, many cities stepped into the new reality where the U.S. has lost its popularity among foreign visitors.

Earlier in the year, Tourism Economics forecasted a notable 8.2% decline in annual international arrivals, causing early concern over what the upcoming high season might hold. To uncover where these changes were felt most, the Altezza Travel team analyzed international traffic data from the airports serving the nation’s most visited cities.

Our findings show that some cities are facing significant drops in visitors while others thrive in the time of nationwide tourism crisis.

Top 15 U.S. cities by international air traffic decline June 2025

Top 5 U.S. cities by international air travel loss in 2025

#1 Las Vegas (decline in June: –9.8%)

Las Vegas served as a striking example of international visitor decline, with a sharp drop of 9.8% confirming what became the most widely discussed downturn nationwide. Data released by the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is in line with The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reports claiming that Las Vegas received 3.1 million visitors, or 11% fewer than last year, in June.

With this drop, Las Vegas is at the forefront of U.S. cities that were hit hardest in early summer by international air traffic declines. Las Vegas tourism was particularly hit by a drop in Canadian visitors, the largest category of customers for casinos, hotels, and restaurants. Nearly 1.5 million Canadians visited the city last year, contributing 3.6 billion dollars to the state’s economy. Las Vegas authorities link the decline in popularity to rising entertainment costs. “There is a concern that the gaming industry in general is nickel and diming people. They don’t like it,” said Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley.

#2 Miami (decline in June: –4.5%)

Miami has historically appealed to a wide range of travelers due to its climate, culture, and proximity to nature. Surprisingly, the second most visited city in the U.S. is also the second hardest hit by the tourism downturn in 2025. May marked a low point for Miami, with a 10.5% decline in international air arrivals. This negative trend continued into summer, recording a 4.5% drop in June.

Multiple factors played a role in this decline. Miami has been heavily dependent on Canadian and Latin American tourists, making it more vulnerable amid global hesitation to visit the U.S. In addition, Miami International Airport reduced capacity, while Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, which also serves the city, cut its route network.

#3 Honolulu (decline in June: –3.8%)

Honolulu has always attracted tourist crowds as the heart of Hawaii. The city became heavily dependent on tourism, so when the downturn hit with a 3.8% year-over-year decline in June, it left a significant impact on local businesses. The downturn hit especially hard since Honolulu's home island was expected to attract 3% more visitors in 2025 instead of suffering from international visitor drops.

#4 New York (decline in June: –3.8%)

New York is the most iconic destination in the U.S. and it was long favored both by business and leisure travellers. Yet in 2025, the city suffered from steady YoY international visitor declines. In June 2025, New York recorded a 3.8% drop in international air traffic. Julie Coker, president of New York City Tourism + Conventions, which promotes the city’s tourism brand, forecasts that New York will receive 2 million fewer tourists in 2025. 

This downturn is a result of several challenges, with political uncertainty taking the largest toll. International visitation dropped at a time when the city was expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, leaving New York especially vulnerable given the outsized role international travelers play in local spending. Foreigners make up only 20% of the overall flow of visitors to “The Big Apple”, but they account for half of all tourism revenue.

#5 Orlando (decline in June: –3.8%)

Orlando, home to some of the world’s most visited theme parks, including Disney World, and a major hub for international family travel, saw a 3.8% YoY decline in international air traffic in June 2025. Just as the city entered its peak international family travel season, the steady YoY growth across the earlier months of 2025 reversed into a negative trend.

The June downturn suggests a combination of economic pressures, shifting airline capacity, and weakening foreign currencies may now be catching up with family travel demand, interrupting what appeared to be a steady recovery trajectory.

Top 3 U.S. cities by international air traffic gains in 2025

#1 San Diego (growth in June: +14.1%)

Unlike the first quarter of 2025, when San Diego experienced a downturn in international arrivals, the second quarter marked a sharp rebound. The city saw a 14.1% year-over-year increase in international air traffic in June 2025, one of the strongest growth rates among major U.S. destinations.

This rebound was largely due to the airport’s expansion with new international connections, including nonstop service to markets like Tokyo, Panama City, Amsterdam, and London. These developments, coupled with restored summer demand, highlight how swiftly international arrivals can recover when supported by operational expansion and seasonal uplift.

#2 Seattle (growth in June: +9.7%)

Seattle, alongside Boston, is one of the few major U.S. cities that has avoided year-over-year international air traffic declines in 2025. Instead, Seattle saw a 9.7% YoY increase in international arrivals in June. An unexpected growth despite global hesitation to visit the U.S.

A combination of factors contributed to this growth. Seattle–Tacoma International Airport has added new nonstop routes to Europe and Asia and upgraded the International Arrivals Facility, which has nearly doubled its gate capacity. In addition, Seattle’s positioning both as a leisure and business destination, together with major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has reinforced its appeal. These elements have allowed Seattle to avoid the negative national trend at a time when other U.S. cities are struggling.

#3 Boston (growth in June: +1.5%)

Boston is one of the only major U.S. cities to avoid year-over-year international air traffic declines, despite a forecasted 9.4% drop in nationwide international tourism. The city recorded a 1.5% YoY increase in June, extending the steady pattern of international air traffic growth already evident in the first quarter. 

Boston’s ability to sustain growth can be partly attributed to Boston Logan’s strong transatlantic network, with nonstop connections to London, Paris, Dublin, and other European hubs. Europe remains the largest share of Boston’s international traffic, and a 5.6% YoY increase in European arrivals in June played a key role in sustaining the overall positive trend.

Methodology

To identify U.S. cities that lost the most international air traffic in June 2025, we analyzed the 15 most visited U.S. cities and captured international traffic data from airports in the respective metropolitan areas that serve commercial international flights. The data covers January to June 2025 and is compared with the same period in 2024 to capture year-over-year changes.

Miami and Fort Lauderdale (ranked #1 and #13 among the U.S.’s most visited cities) airport data were merged due to the proximity of the major airports in both cities. Therefore, international traffic data shown in Miami from airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale reflects the broader South Florida travel market.

To determine the ranking of U.S. cities that lost the most international air traffic, we used June year-over-year changes, as they reflect the most recent trends in international travel.

Download link to the full dataset.

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