International air travel in the US dips in December 2025

International air passenger traffic to and from the US edged slightly lower in December 2025, according to data released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO).

Total US international air passenger enplanements reached 23.2 million during the month, a 0.1% year-on-year decline compared with December 2024. Despite the marginal dip, volumes stood at 109.9% of pre-pandemic December 2019 levels, underscoring the sector’s continued recovery.

Inbound travel showed more pronounced weakness. Non-US citizen air passenger arrivals totalled 5.3 million in December, down 2.9% year on year and representing 93.8% of December 2019 volumes. Overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.2 million, or 92% of pre-pandemic levels, improving from 85% in November. However, overseas visitation for the full year remained down 2.5% compared with 2024.

Outbound travel by US citizens remained strong. Air passenger departures to foreign destinations rose 3.2% year on year to 6.9 million, exceeding December 2019 levels by 30.3%.

By region, Europe recorded 5.6 million passengers travelling to the US, down 0.3% year on year, while South and Central America and the Caribbean saw 6.3 million passengers, down 0.9% but well above pre-pandemic volumes. Asia was the fastest-growing region year on year, up 7.3%, though still below 2019 levels.

Mexico remained the largest international market, followed by Canada and the UK, with New York JFK, Miami, and Los Angeles the leading US gateway airports.

The US government recently launched a golden visa programme, offering fast-tracked visas to applicants who pay a contribution of at least US$1 million.