Airfare at major airports is up 29% since 2021
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 5:59 a.m. UTC March 19, 2024
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Key points
- The cost of flights at America’s 100 busiest airports is up 29% since 2021.
- Between 2022 and 2023, however, flight prices leveled off and even slightly dropped.
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has had the highest increase in average airfare since 2021.
Though the average cost of airfare at America’s 100 busiest airports is up 29% ($86) since 2021, airfare has remained fairly steady in the past year, even decreasing by 1% ($3) between 2022 and 2023.
Airports with the biggest change in flight prices
By and large, the cost of air travel has gone up since 2021, when fewer people were traveling just a year into the COVID-19 pandemic. But airfare cost increases haven’t been uniform across the board.
When looking at domestic airfare by origin city, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has seen the highest increase in prices with average fares up 48% since 2021. Spokane International (46%), Chicago O’Hare International (43%) and Philadelphia International (43%) follow closely behind.
Smaller airports seem to be especially hard hit by price increases. Of the 20 major U.S. airports with the highest increase in prices, 10 are in the bottom 30% of total passenger volume.
In all, flight prices have increased at 97 of the country’s 100 busiest airports since 2021. The three airports that saw prices drop are all in Hawaii. Lihue Airport in Hawaii has seen the biggest drop in prices at 6%.
Airfare costs have started to come down slightly since 2022. Between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023 (most recent data available), prices decreased by 1% nationwide. Overall, prices decreased at 61 of the 100 busiest airports and increased at 39 airports.
Long Beach Airport in California experienced the biggest increase in airfare prices between 2022 and 2023 at 12% ($34). Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, saw the biggest decrease in prices at 11% (-$42).
What is the cheapest airport to fly out of?
Looking for the cheapest airports to fly in and out of? Major tourist destinations like Orlando and Las Vegas have some of the cheapest airports in the country.
Of the top 100 busiest domestic airports, Orlando-Sanford is the cheapest airport to fly out of with an average airfare price of $144. That could be good news if you’re planning a Disney World vacation.
Americans are changing the way they fly
We surveyed 2,000 people nationwide who have flown in the last year and found that cost was the biggest factor they considered when deciding whether to drive or fly.
More than 40% of travelers cited cost as a determining factor in their travel plans, followed by travel time and flight availability. Only 5% said these factors didn’t influence their travel decisions.
Because travelers are increasingly concerned about flight delays and cancellations, our survey found many have started purchasing travel insurance more often when they fly. By purchasing travel insurance, travelers can ensure they’re compensated if flights are delayed or canceled and their trips are adversely affected. The best travel insurance policies also cover things like lost luggage.
How travel insurance can help
With airfare costs on the rise in recent years, travelers have more to lose when flights are canceled or delayed. Purchasing a quality travel insurance policy means you won’t lose out on all the money you spent on flights and other prepaid, nonrefundable expenses, such as rental cars and hotels.
And it’s not only flights that travel insurance covers. If you have to cancel your trip, arrive late or need to end your vacation early because of a covered reason, such as illness or a death in the family, you can recoup travel costs.
Given the continued uncertainty of air travel, flight insurance is worth it for most travelers boarding a plane.
Methodology
Average fares for each airport were calculated using airfare statistics from the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Fares were compared for the second quarter of 2021, 2022 and 2023 for the 100 busiest airports by total passenger count.
Survey results were obtained through an online survey of 2,000 Americans who have traveled by plane in the last year was commissioned by USA TODAY Blueprint and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16, 2023. The margin of error is +/- 2.2 points with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by the OnePoll research team, which is a member of the MRS and has corporate membership with the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR).
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The most expensive airport to fly out of is the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, based on 2023 data of the 100 busiest airports in the United States. On average, a flight out of Dane County costs $548.
Of the 100 busiest airports in the United States, the three cheapest airports to fly out of are:
- Orlando Sanford International at $144 per flight.
- St. Pete-Clearwater International at $151 per flight.
- Lihue Airport at $258 per flight.
The only two airports with average flights under $200 are located in Florida, both a stone’s throw away from popular vacation spots like Disney World, Universal Studios and the Florida coast.
In general, bigger airports have cheaper flights. There are more flights per day to various destinations, and more airlines can fly out of the airport. This creates competition among airlines, which drives prices down.
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