International air travel to and from the United States declines in March 2026, even as overseas visitor numbers continue to rise, according to newly released data. Total passenger enplanements reach 22 million, down 2.4 percent compared to March 2025, while still exceeding pre-pandemic March 2019 levels at 103.1 percent.
At the same time, overseas visitor arrivals to the United States total 2.5 million in March, up 3.6 percent year over year. Non-U.S. citizen air passenger arrivals reach 4.6 million, marking a 0.9 percent increase from the same period last year.
The figures highlight a mixed picture for U.S. international travel demand, with fewer overall passengers but continued recovery in inbound tourism. Seasonal timing differences, including Easter falling in early April in 2026 compared to late April in 2025, may have influenced the year-over-year comparison.
U.S. citizen departures to foreign countries total 6.4 million in March, down 2.1 percent from March 2025. Despite the decline, outbound travel remains strong, exceeding March 2019 levels by 19.4 percent.
Regional trends show varied performance across global markets. Europe records 5.4 million passengers, up 3.5 percent year over year and 3.1 percent above pre-pandemic levels. Travel between the United States and South and Central America, including the Caribbean, reaches 6.3 million passengers, rising 2.7 percent compared to March 2025 and 17.1 percent above March 2019.
Asia posts the strongest annual growth among major regions, with 3 million passengers, up 10.5 percent year over year, although volumes remain 4.8 percent below pre-pandemic levels. In contrast, the Middle East sees a sharp decline, with 498,316 passengers, down 54.1 percent compared to March 2025 and 40 percent below March 2019.
Among international markets, travel between the United States and Mexico leads with 3.6 million passengers, despite a 10.7 percent drop year over year. Canada follows with 2.6 million passengers, down 7.3 percent. The United Kingdom records 1.5 million passengers, up 3.3 percent, while the Dominican Republic reaches 1.1 million, up 9.6 percent, and Japan records 1 million passengers, up 8.3 percent.
Major airport hubs continue to dominate international traffic flows. New York’s JFK handles 2.5 million passengers, followed by Miami with 2.2 million, Los Angeles with 1.9 million, and both San Francisco and Atlanta at 1.3 million each.
On the international side, London Heathrow remains the top foreign gateway to the United States with 1.4 million passengers. Cancun handles 1.2 million, followed by Toronto with 1.1 million, Mexico City with 707,000, and Paris Charles de Gaulle with 613,000.
While overall passenger numbers dip in March, the steady rise in overseas visitors suggests continued recovery in international tourism to the United States, even as global travel patterns shift.
