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1st-Quarter 2014 Air Fare Data
The average domestic air fare decreased to $381 in the first quarter of 2014, down 1.0 percent from the average fare of $384 in the first quarter of 2013, adjusted for inflation (Table 1), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. During that January to March period, Cincinnati, Ohio, had the highest average fare, $514, while Sanford, Florida, had the lowest, $119 (Table 6).
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, BTS Air Fares, Origin and Destination Survey
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 accounted for 34 percent of fares calculated for the first quarter of 2014. 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. Constant 2014 dollars are used for inflation adjustment.
Inflation-Adjusted Air Fares
First-quarter fares rose 7.9 percent adjusted for inflation from the recession-affected low of $349 in 2009 to the first quarter of 2011. Since 2011, first quarter fares have shown little change, increasing 1.2 percent from 2011 to 2014 (Table 1).
The first-quarter 2014 fare was down 19.9 percent adjusted for inflation from the average fare of $475 in 1999, the highest inflation-adjusted first quarter average fare in the 19 years since BTS began collecting air fare records in 1995 (Table 2). The 19.9 percent decline took place while there was an increase in overall consumer prices of 43.2 percent. Since 1995, inflation-adjusted fares declined 17.8 percent compared to a 56.1 percent increase in overall consumer prices (Table 2). See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.
U.S. passenger airlines collected 70.2 percent of their total revenue from passenger fares during the first quarter of 2014, 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 first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2014, inflation-adjusted fares increased 1.2 percent. In the two-year period from the first quarter of 2012 to the fourth quarter of 2014, inflation-adjusted fares decreased 0.9 percent (Table 3).
Unadjusted Air Fares
Not adjusting for inflation, the $381 first-quarter 2014 average fare was the highest average fare for any first quarter since 1995. The previous highest unadjusted first-quarter fare was $379 in 2013. Since 1995, unadjusted fares rose 28.2 percent compared to a 56.1 percent increase in overall consumer prices (Table 4).
Unadjusted first-quarter 2014 fares were down 0.6 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013 and down 1.9 percent from the third quarter of 2013, the all-time high for any quarter, unadjusted for inflation (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 2013 originating passengers. All figures are reported in 2014 dollars.
Table 6: Five highest and five lowest average fares in the first quarter: Cincinnati had the highest average fare ($514) while Sanford had the lowest ($119). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 10 on the BTS website.
Table 7: Five largest increases and five largest decreases adjusted for inflation from the first quarter of 2013 to the first quarter of 2014: Colorado Springs, Colorado, had the largest increase (13.2 percent) and Bellingham, Washington, had the largest decrease (-23.7 percent). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 11 on the BTS website.
Table 8: Five largest increases and five largest decreases adjusted for inflation from the first quarter of 2000 to the first quarter of 2014: Dallas Love, Texas, had the largest increase (28.9 percent) and White Plains, New York, had the largest decrease
(-52.9 percent). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 12 on the BTS website.
For additional data, see Top 100 Airports, Rankings or All Airports. Since average fares are based on the Origin and Destination Survey 10 percent ticket sample, averages for airports with smaller samples may be less reliable. Fares for Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico airports are not included in rankings but are available on the web page. Second-quarter 2014 average fare data will be released on Oct 28.
Table 1. 1st Quarter Average Fare 1995-2014, Adjusted for Inflation
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Average Fare in constant 2014 dollars ($) | Year-to-Year Percent Change in Average Fare (1Q to 1Q) (%) | Cumulative Percent Change in Average Fare (1Q 1995 to 1Q of each year) (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 463 | - | - |
| 1996 | 431 | -6.9 | -6.9 |
| 1997 | 419 | -2.9 | -9.6 |
| 1998 | 444 | 6.1 | -4.1 |
| 1999 | 475 | 7.0 | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 470 | -1.2 | 1.4 |
| 2001 | 466 | -0.7 | 0.7 |
| 2002 | 423 | -9.3 | -8.7 |
| 2003 | 409 | -3.2 | -11.6 |
| 2004 | 404 | -1.4 | -12.8 |
| 2005 | 368 | -8.8 | -20.4 |
| 2006 | 382 | 3.8 | -17.4 |
| 2007 | 366 | -4.4 | -21.0 |
| 2008 | 369 | 0.8 | -20.3 |
| 2009 | 349 | -5.5 | -24.7 |
| 2010 | 356 | 2.2 | -23.1 |
| 2011 | 376 | 5.6 | -18.8 |
| 2012 | 384 | 2.1 | -17.1 |
| 2013 | 384 | 0.1 | -17.0 |
| 2014 | 381 | -1.0 | -17.8 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 1A. Passenger Airline Revenue from Fares 1990-2014
| 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 | 70.7 |
| 2014 (1Q) | 70.2 |
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 2014 in Average Domestic Average Fares and the Inflation Rate* by Year Since 1995
(1st Quarter to 1st Quarter for fares; Mar to Mar 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 1st Quarter of ... | Duration in Years | Average Fare in constant 2014 dollars ($) | Percent Change in Average Fare to 1st Quarter 2014 (%) | Inflation Rate Change to Mar 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 381 | |||
| 2013 | 1 | 384 | -1.0 | 1.5 |
| 2012 | 2 | 384 | -0.9 | 3.0 |
| 2011 | 3 | 376 | 1.2 | 5.7 |
| 2010 | 4 | 356 | 6.9 | 8.6 |
| 2009 | 5 | 349 | 9.2 | 11.1 |
| 2008 | 6 | 369 | 3.2 | 10.7 |
| 2007 | 7 | 366 | 4.1 | 15.1 |
| 2006 | 8 | 382 | -0.4 | 18.3 |
| 2005 | 9 | 368 | 3.3 | 22.2 |
| 2004 | 10 | 404 | -5.7 | 26.1 |
| 2003 | 11 | 409 | -7.0 | 28.3 |
| 2002 | 12 | 423 | -10.0 | 32.2 |
| 2001 | 13 | 466 | -18.4 | 34.1 |
| 2000 | 14 | 470 | -18.9 | 38.0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 475 | -19.9 | 43.2 |
| 1998 | 16 | 444 | -14.3 | 45.7 |
| 1997 | 17 | 419 | -9.0 | 47.7 |
| 1996 | 18 | 431 | -11.7 | 51.8 |
| 1995 | 19 | 463 | -17.8 | 56.1 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
* Rate calculated using Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index
Table 3. Inflation-Adjusted Average Domestic Airline Fares by Quarter
Average Fare and Percent Change by Quarter
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Quarter/Year | Average Domestic Fare (2014$) | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Fare in constant 2014 dollars ($) | Quarter-to-Quarter Percent Change in Average Fare (%) | |
| 1Q 2011 | 376 | 4.2 |
| 2Q 2011 | 387 | 2.9 |
| 3Q 2011 | 376 | -2.9 |
| 4Q 2011 | 386 | 2.7 |
| 1Q 2012 | 384 | -0.4 |
| 2Q 2012 | 396 | 3.1 |
| 3Q 2012 | 375 | -5.4 |
| 4Q 2012 | 385 | 2.8 |
| 1Q 2013 | 384 | -0.2 |
| 2Q 2013* | 375 | -2.4 |
| 3Q 2013* | 388 | 3.4 |
| 4Q 2013* | 383 | -1.3 |
| 1Q 2014* | 381 | -0.6 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
* Fares for the most recent four quarters are in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
Table 4. Unadjusted 1st Quarter Average Fares, 1995-2014
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Average Fare in current dollars ($) | Year-to-Year Percent Change in Average Fare (1Q to 1Q) (%) | Cumulative Percent Change in Average Fare (1Q 1995 to 1Q of each year) (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 297 | ||
| 1996 | 284 | -4.4 | -4.4 |
| 1997 | 283 | -0.2 | -4.5 |
| 1998 | 305 | 7.5 | 2.6 |
| 1999 | 332 | 8.9 | 11.7 |
| 2000 | 340 | 2.6 | 14.6 |
| 2001 | 348 | 2.2 | 17.1 |
| 2002 | 320 | -8.0 | 7.8 |
| 2003 | 319 | -0.3 | 7.5 |
| 2004 | 320 | 0.3 | 7.9 |
| 2005 | 301 | -5.9 | 1.5 |
| 2006 | 323 | 7.3 | 8.9 |
| 2007 | 318 | -1.7 | 7.1 |
| 2008 | 333 | 4.9 | 12.3 |
| 2009 | 314 | -5.8 | 5.7 |
| 2010 | 328 | 4.6 | 10.5 |
| 2011 | 356 | 8.4 | 19.8 |
| 2012 | 373 | 4.8 | 25.6 |
| 2013 | 379 | 1.6 | 27.5 |
| 2014 | 381 | 0.5 | 28.2 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 5. Unadjusted Average Domestic Airline Fares by Quarter
Average 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 (%) | |
| 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 | 2.0 |
| 1Q 2013 | 379 | 1.2 |
| 2Q 2013 | 375 | -0.9 |
| 3Q 2013 | 388 | 3.4 |
| 4Q 2013 | 383 | -1.3 |
| 1Q 2014 | 381 | -0.6 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 6. Airports with Highest and Lowest U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fares 1st Quarter 2014
Top 100 Airports* Based on 2013 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 | 1st Quarter 2014 ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Average Fares | ||
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | 514 |
| 2 | Washington Dulles | 499 |
| 3 | Madison, WI | 496 |
| 4 | Houston Bush, TX | 494 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | 482 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 381 | |
| Lowest Average Fares | ||
| 1 | Sanford, FL | 119 |
| 2 | Mesa, AZ | 133 |
| 3 | Atlantic City, NJ | 153 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | 218 |
| 5 | Long Beach, CA | 235 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Table 7. One-Year Change by Airport: Top 5 Airport Percentage Increases and Decreases in U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fare, 1Q 2013 to 1Q 2014
Top 100 Airports* Based on 2013 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers, Fares Adjusted for Inflation
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Rank | Origin | 1st Quarter 2013 (2014$) | 1st Quarter 2014 (2014$) | Percent Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largest Increases | ||||
| 1 | Colorado Springs, CO | 392 | 443 | 13.2 |
| 2 | Orlando, FL | 294 | 318 | 8.2 |
| 3 | Birmingham, AL | 415 | 443 | 6.8 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | 384 | 405 | 5.2 |
| 5 | Long Beach, CA | 223 | 235 | 5.2 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 384 | 381 | -1.0 | |
| Largest Decreases | ||||
| 1 | Bellingham, WA | 286 | 218 | -23.7 |
| 2 | Mesa, AZ | 154 | 133 | -14.1 |
| 3 | Islip, NY | 324 | 289 | -10.9 |
| 4 | Atlantic City, NJ | 171 | 153 | -10.7 |
| 5 | Wichita, KS | 447 | 407 | -9.0 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 8. 14-Year Change by Airport: Top 5 Percentage Increases and Decreases in U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fare, 2000-2014
Top 100 Airports* Based on 2013 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers, Fares Adjusted for Inflation
Fares are based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
| Rank | Origin | 1st Quarter 2000 (2014$) | 1st Quarter 2014 (2014$) | Percent Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largest Increases | ||||
| 1 | Dallas Love, TX | 227 | 292 | 28.9 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | 288 | 357 | 24.0 |
| 3 | Houston Hobby, TX | 293 | 349 | 19.2 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | 330 | 371 | 12.4 |
| 5 | Burbank, CA | 246 | 275 | 12.1 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 470 | 381 | -18.9 | |
| Largest Decreases | ||||
| 1 | White Plains, NY | 839 | 395 | -52.9 |
| 2 | Long Beach, CA | 475 | 235 | -50.5 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | 434 | 218 | -49.7 |
| 4 | Atlantic City, NJ | 293 | 153 | -47.8 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | 612 | 334 | -45.4 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/airfares and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
For air fares: for the following airports, go to http://apps.bts.gov/xml/atpi/src/index.xml
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.
Top 100 airports based on 2013 originating domestic passengers:
Alabama: Birmingham
Arizona: Mesa, 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,
Sanford, Tampa, West Palm Beach
Georgia: Atlanta, Savannah
Idaho: Boise
Illinois: Chicago Midway, Chicago O'Hare
Indiana: Indianapolis
Iowa: Des Moines
Kansas: Wichita
Kentucky: 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