U.S. Sees Mixed Trends in International Air Travel: Inbound Tourism Declines

Overseas Visitation to the United States Down 2.9 percent Year Over Year in August 2025 – International Air Passenger Enplanements To and From the United States Up 1.2 percent Year Over Year in August 2025

The latest data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) reveals a mixed picture for international air travel involving the United States in August 2025. While there was a modest year-over-year increase in total air passenger traffic, the number of overseas visitors to the United States declined. This article delves into the specifics of these trends, examining the data and its implications for the tourism industry.

Overall Air Passenger Traffic

In August 2025, international air passenger enplanements to and from the United States reached 25.6 million, marking a 1.2 percent increase compared to the same month in 2024. This figure surpasses the pre-pandemic levels of August 2019 by 4.7 percent, indicating a recovery in overall air travel. However, this recovery is not uniform across all segments of international travel.

Inbound Tourism Decline

The NTTO data highlights a concerning trend for inbound tourism. Non-U.S. citizen air passenger arrivals totaled 5.6 million in August 2025, reflecting a 3.3 percent decrease from August 2024. This figure represents only 88.6 percent of the pre-pandemic volume recorded in August 2019. Similarly, overseas visitor arrivals totaled 3.5 million, a 2.9 percent decrease compared to the previous year, representing 86.0 percent of the August 2019 levels. Year-to-date figures show a 1.8 percent decline in total overseas visitation compared to the same period in the previous year.

Outbound Travel Trends

Conversely, U.S. citizen air passenger departures to foreign countries showed a positive trend, totaling 6.5 million in August 2025. This represents a 2.8 percent increase over August 2024 and exceeds the August 2019 volume by 22.0 percent. This growth in outbound travel suggests a strong interest among U.S. citizens in international destinations.

Regional Highlights

The data also provides insights into regional travel patterns. The top countries for total air passenger travel with the United States in August 2025 were Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Dominican Republic. Notably, travel between the U.S. and Europe increased by 3.8% compared to August 2024 and by 6.1% compared to August 2019. In contrast, travel to and from Asia, while up 5.4 percent from the previous year, remained 21.1 percent below the 2019 levels.

Key Airports and Ports

New York’s JFK, Los Angeles’ LAX, and Miami’s MIA were among the top U.S. airports serving international locations. On the foreign side, London Heathrow, Toronto, and Paris Charles de Gaulle were the leading ports serving U.S. locations. These airports continue to play a pivotal role in facilitating international travel.

The data from August 2025 presents a nuanced picture of international air travel involving the United States. While there is a notable recovery in overall air passenger traffic, the decline in inbound tourism, particularly from overseas visitors, poses challenges for the U.S. tourism industry. As travel patterns continue to evolve, stakeholders will need to address these challenges to ensure a balanced recovery.