Airline postpones direct flights from Halifax to Boston due to tariffs

CITYnews halifax / By Natasha O’Neill

Only a few months ago, JetBlue announced direct flights between Halifax and Boston, now as political tensions and tariffs rose, the airline is pulling back on its promise.

In January, the business said that by June, Haligonians would have yet another option for flying in and out of the U.S., but as President Donald Trump imposed tariffs and Canadians rallied against anything American, the airline is saying it will be delaying this change until 2026.

“The current tariff environment and its impact on Canadian travel to the U.S. have created a challenging time for introducing a new U.S. carrier to the market,” it said in a press release.

Part of the reason is that many Canadians have boycotted U.S. products, opting for a Canada-first approach, including their vacations.

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In an email to CityNews, a JetBlue spokesperson said that bookings have not met expectations, one of many “necessary steps” to manage travel.

“We know this change may be disappointing for those who had already booked travel, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. All impacted customers will receive full refunds,” the statement notes.

The business instead will launch the flights in summer 2026.

“Non-stop flights between Halifax and Boston will continue to be offered by Air Canada’s daily, year-round service, and American Airlines’ weekly summer seasonal service,” the airline said.