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Top 100 Airports: Highest Fares at Huntsville, Lowest Fares at Atlantic City
The average domestic air fare increased to $390 in the third quarter of 2013, up 5.1 percent from the average fare of $371 in the third quarter of 2012, measured in constant 2013 dollars (Table 1), the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. During that July to September period, Huntsville, Ala., had the highest average fare, $559, while Atlantic City, N.J., had the lowest, $157 (Table 6).
BTS reports average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares, unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. One-way trips were 32 percent of fares calculated for the third quarter of 2013. Fares are based on the total ticket value, which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees, such as baggage fees, paid at either the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares," or abnormally high reported fares.
The third-quarter 2013 fare was down 14.0 percent in constant 2013 dollars from the average fare of $453 in 2000, which was the highest of any third quarter, adjusted for inflation, in the 18 years since BTS began collecting air fare records in 1995 (Table 2). The 14.0 percent decline took place while there was an increase in overall consumer prices of 34.8 percent. In the 18 years since 1995, inflation-adjusted fares declined 11.2 percent compared to a 52.8 percent increase in overall consumer prices (Table 2). See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.
U.S. passenger airlines collected 71.5 percent of their total revenue from passenger fares during the third quarter of 2013, down from 1990 when 87.6 percent of airline revenue was received from fares (Table 1A).
Quarter-to-Quarter Change
In the three-year period from the third quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2013, inflation-adjusted fares decreased 1.9 percent. In the two-year period from the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2013, inflation-adjusted fares increased 8.4 percent (Table 3).
Air Fares in Unadjusted Dollars
Not adjusting for inflation, the $390 third-quarter 2013 average fare was the highest average fare for any third quarter since 1995. The previous highest unadjusted third quarter fare was $367 in 2012 (Table 4).
Unadjusted third-quarter 2013 fares were up 3.4 percent from the second quarter of 2013 (Table 5). See Tables 13-16 for additional unadjusted fare data by airport.
Fares by Airport
Tables 6-8 provide fare data on the top 100 airports based on 2012 originating passengers. All figures are reported in 2013 dollars.
Table 6: Five highest and five lowest average fares in the third quarter: Huntsville had the highest average fare ($559) while Atlantic City had the lowest ($157). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 10 on the BTS website.
Table 7: Five largest increases and five largest decreases in constant 2013 dollars from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013: Atlanta, Ga., had the largest increase (22.6 percent) and Bellingham, Wash., had the largest decrease (16.4 percent). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 11 on the BTS website.
Table 8: Five largest increases and five largest decreases in constant 2013 dollars from the third quarter of 2000 to the third quarter of 2013: Newport News/Williamsburg, Va., had the largest increase (41.9 percent) and Bellingham had the largest decrease (59.3 percent). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 12 on the BTS website.
For additional data, see Top 100 Airports, Rankings or All Airports. Since average fares are based on the Origin and Destination Survey 10 percent ticket sample, averages for airports with smaller samples may be less reliable. Fares for Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico airports are not included in rankings but are available on the web page. Fourth-quarter 2013 average fare data will be released on April 22.
Table 1. 3rd Quarter Average Fare 1995-2013, Adjusted for InflationFares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Average Fare in constant 2013 dollars ($) | Year-to-Year Percent Change in Average Fare (3Q to 3Q) (%) | Cumulative Percent Change in Average Fare (3Q 1995 to 3Q of each year) (%) | |
| 1995 | 439 | ||
| 1996 | 400 | -9.0 | -9.0 |
| 1997 | 410 | 2.5 | -6.7 |
| 1998 | 451 | 10.0 | 2.7 |
| 1999 | 442 | -2.0 | 0.7 |
| 2000 | 454 | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| 2001 | 398 | -12.3 | -9.4 |
| 2002 | 392 | -1.4 | -10.7 |
| 2003 | 395 | 0.7 | -10.1 |
| 2004 | 366 | -7.4 | -16.8 |
| 2005 | 360 | -1.5 | -18.0 |
| 2006 | 381 | 5.7 | -13.3 |
| 2007 | 368 | -3.4 | -16.3 |
| 2008 | 384 | 4.4 | -12.6 |
| 2009 | 333 | -13.4 | -24.3 |
| 2010 | 364 | 9.4 | -17.1 |
| 2011 | 372 | 2.2 | -15.3 |
| 2012 | 371 | -0.2 | -15.5 |
| 2013 | 390 | 5.1 | -11.2 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 1A. Passenger Airline Revenue from Fares 1990-2013| Year | Revenue from Passenger Fares as Percent of Total Scheduled Passenger Airline Revenue* (%) |
| 1990 | 87.6 |
| 1995 | 85.6 |
| 2000 | 84.1 |
| 2001 | 82.7 |
| 2002 | 82.3 |
| 2003 | 79.5 |
| 2004 | 76.6 |
| 2005 | 75.0 |
| 2006 | 74.4 |
| 2007 | 74.3 |
| 2008 | 72.9 |
| 2009 | 70.2 |
| 2010 | 71.3 |
| 2011 | 71.0 |
| 2012 | 70.3 |
| 2013 (1Q) | 70.2 |
| 2013 (2Q) | 70.8 |
| 2013 (3Q) | 71.5 |
| 2013 (thru 3Q) | 70.9 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, P-12
* Scheduled passenger airline total revenue is the sum of the following Schedule P12 accounts with account numbers: Reservation cancellation fees (3919.1), Baggage fees (3906.2), Miscellaneous Operating Revenue (3919.2), Transport-Related Revenue (4898) and Passenger Revenue (Fares) (3901).
Table 2. Percent Changes to 2013 in Average Domestic Average Fares and the Inflation Rate* by Year Since 1995(3rd Quarter to 3rd Quarter for fares; Sept to Sept for inflation)
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Since 3rd Quarter of ... | Duration in Years | Average Fare in constant 2013 dollars ($) | Percent Change in Average Fare to 3rd Quarter 2013 (%) | Inflation Rate Change to Sep 2013 |
| 2013 | 390 | |||
| 2012 | 1 | 371 | 5.1 | 1.2 |
| 2011 | 2 | 372 | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| 2010 | 3 | 364 | 7.2 | 7.2 |
| 2009 | 4 | 333 | 17.3 | 8.4 |
| 2008 | 5 | 384 | 1.6 | 7.0 |
| 2007 | 6 | 368 | 6.1 | 12.3 |
| 2006 | 7 | 381 | 2.5 | 15.4 |
| 2005 | 8 | 360 | 8.4 | 17.8 |
| 2004 | 9 | 366 | 6.8 | 23.3 |
| 2003 | 10 | 395 | -1.1 | 26.4 |
| 2002 | 11 | 392 | -0.5 | 29.4 |
| 2001 | 12 | 398 | -1.9 | 31.3 |
| 2000 | 13 | 454 | -14.0 | 34.8 |
| 1999 | 14 | 442 | -11.7 | 39.5 |
| 1998 | 15 | 451 | -13.5 | 43.1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 410 | -4.8 | 45.3 |
| 1996 | 17 | 400 | -2.4 | 48.4 |
| 1995 | 18 | 439 | -11.2 | 52.8 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Rate calculated using Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index
Table 3. Inflation-Adjusted Average Domestic Airline Fares by QuarterAverage Fare and Percent Change by Quarter
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Quarter/Year | Average Domestic Fare (2013$) | |
| Average Fare in constant 2013 dollars ($) | Quarter-to-Quarter Percent Change in Average Fare (%) | |
| 3Q 2010 | 398 | -12.3 |
| 4Q 2010 | 392 | -1.4 |
| 1Q 2011 | 395 | 0.7 |
| 2Q 2011 | 366 | -7.4 |
| 3Q 2011 | 360 | -1.5 |
| 4Q 2011 | 381 | 5.7 |
| 1Q 2012 | 368 | -3.4 |
| 2Q 2012 | 384 | 4.4 |
| 3Q 2012 | 333 | -13.4 |
| 4Q 2012* | 364 | 9.4 |
| 1Q 2013* | 372 | 2.2 |
| 2Q 2013* | 371 | -0.2 |
| 3Q 2013* | 390 | 5.1 |
SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
* Fares for the most recent four quarters are in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
Table 4. Unadjusted 3rd Quarter Average Fares, 1995-2013Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Average Fare in current dollars ($) | Year-to-Year Percent Change in Average Fare (3Q to 3Q) (%) | Cumulative Percent Change in Average Fare (3Q 1995 to 3Q of each year) (%) | |
| 1995 | 288 | ||
| 1996 | 269 | -6.3 | -6.3 |
| 1997 | 282 | 4.7 | -1.8 |
| 1998 | 315 | 11.7 | 9.6 |
| 1999 | 317 | 0.6 | 10.3 |
| 2000 | 337 | 6.1 | 17.1 |
| 2001 | 303 | -10.0 | 5.4 |
| 2002 | 303 | 0.1 | 5.5 |
| 2003 | 312 | 3.0 | 8.7 |
| 2004 | 297 | -5.1 | 3.1 |
| 2005 | 306 | 3.2 | 6.4 |
| 2006 | 330 | 7.9 | 14.8 |
| 2007 | 328 | -0.8 | 13.9 |
| 2008 | 359 | 9.6 | 24.8 |
| 2009 | 307 | -14.5 | 6.8 |
| 2010 | 340 | 10.7 | 18.2 |
| 2011 | 361 | 6.2 | 25.5 |
| 2012 | 367 | 1.8 | 27.7 |
| 2013 | 390 | 6.3 | 35.8 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 5. Unadjusted Average Domestic Airline Fares by QuarterAverage Fare and Percent Change by Quarter
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Quarter/Year | Average Domestic Fare (current$) | |
| Average Fare in current dollars ($) | Quarter-to-Quarter Percent Change in Average Fare (%) | |
| 3Q 2010 | 340 | -0.3 |
| 4Q 2010 | 335 | -1.5 |
| 1Q 2011 | 356 | 6.3 |
| 2Q 2011 | 370 | 3.9 |
| 3Q 2011 | 361 | -2.4 |
| 4Q 2011 | 368 | 2.1 |
| 1Q 2012 | 373 | 1.2 |
| 2Q 2012 | 385 | 3.2 |
| 3Q 2012 | 367 | -4.6 |
| 4Q 2012 | 374 | 1.9 |
| 1Q 2013 | 379 | 1.2 |
| 2Q 2013 | 378 | -0.3 |
| 3Q 2013 | 390 | 3.4 |
SOURCE: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 6. Airports with Highest and Lowest U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fares 3rd Quarter 2013Top 100 Airports* Based on 2012 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Rank | Origin | 3rd Quarter 2013 ($) |
| Highest Average Fares | ||
| 1 | Huntsville, AL | 559 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | 531 |
| 3 | Houston Bush, TX | 507 |
| 4 | Washington Dulles | 506 |
| 5 | Newark-Liberty, NJ | 491 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 390 | |
| Lowest Average Fares | ||
| 1 | Atlantic City, NJ | 157 |
| 2 | Bellingham, WA | 208 |
| 3 | Long Beach, CA | 250 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | 265 |
| 5 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 289 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Table 7. One-Year Change by Airport: Top 5 Airport Percentage Increases and Decreases in U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fare, 3Q 2012 to 3Q 2013Top 100 Airports* Based on 2012 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers, Fares Adjusted for Inflation
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Rank | Origin | 3rd Quarter 2012 (2013$) | 3rd Quarter 2013 (2013$) | Percent Change (%) |
| Largest Increases | ||||
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | 352 | 432 | 22.6 |
| 2 | Colorado Springs, CO | 385 | 464 | 20.4 |
| 3 | Atlantic City, NJ | 135 | 157 | 16.5 |
| 4 | White Plains, NY | 330 | 382 | 15.8 |
| 5 | Ft. Myers, FL | 301 | 347 | 15.1 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 371 | 390 | 5.1 | |
| Largest Decreases | ||||
| 1 | Bellingham, WA | 249 | 208 | -16.4 |
| 2 | Charleston, SC | 433 | 398 | -8.1 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | 360 | 336 | -6.7 |
| 4 | Burlington, VT | 437 | 414 | -5.2 |
| 5 | Manchester, NH | 366 | 354 | -3.2 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 8. 13-Year Change by Airport: Top 5 Percentage Increases and Decreases in U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fare, 2000-2013Top 100 Airports* Based on 2012 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers, Fares Adjusted for Inflation
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Rank | Origin | 3rd Quarter 2000 (2013$) | 3rd Quarter 2013 (2013$) | Percent Change (%) |
| Largest Increases | ||||
| 1 | Newport News/Williamsburg, VA | 314 | 445 | 41.9 |
| 2 | Houston Hobby, TX | 296 | 359 | 21.3 |
| 3 | Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena, CA | 255 | 297 | 16.3 |
| 4 | Dallas Love, TX | 259 | 300 | 15.8 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | 313 | 361 | 15.1 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 454 | 390 | -14.0 | |
| Largest Decreases | ||||
| 1 | Bellingham, WA | 511 | 208 | -59.3 |
| 2 | White Plains, NY | 749 | 382 | -49.0 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | 587 | 335 | -42.9 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | 426 | 250 | -41.4 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | 254 | 157 | -38.2 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Multiple airport areas for which a single average fare calculation is available are: Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
Airports covered by average fare calculations are:
Alabama Birmingham, Huntsville
Arizona Phoenix, Tucson
Arkansas Little Rock
California Burbank, Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles Intl, Oakland, Ontario/San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Ana (Orange County)
Colorado Colorado Springs, Denver
Connecticut Hartford
District of Columbia Dulles, Reagan National
Florida Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa, West Palm Beach
Georgia Atlanta, Savannah
Idaho Boise
Illinois Chicago Midway, Chicago O'Hare
Indiana Indianapolis
Iowa Des Moines
Kansas Wichita
Kentucky Lexington, Louisville
Louisiana New Orleans
Maine Portland
Maryland Baltimore
Massachusetts Boston
Michigan Detroit, Grand Rapids
Minnesota Minneapolis/St. Paul
Mississippi Jackson/Vicksburg
Missouri Kansas City, St. Louis
Nebraska Omaha
Nevada Las Vegas, Reno
New Hampshire Manchester
New Jersey Atlantic City, Newark
New Mexico Albuquerque
New York Albany, Buffalo, Islip, New York JFK, New York LaGuardia, Rochester, Syracuse, White Plains
North Carolina Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh/Durham
Ohio Akron/Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton
Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Oregon Portland
Pennsylvania Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Rhode Island Providence
South Carolina Charleston, Greenville-Spartanburg
Tennessee Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville
Texas Austin, Dallas Love, Dallas/Ft. Worth, El Paso, Houston Bush, Houston Hobby, San Antonio
Utah Salt Lake City
Vermont Burlington
Virginia Norfolk, Richmond
Washington Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane
Wisconsin Madison, Milwaukee
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