2nd-Quarter 2014 Air Fare Data
The average domestic air fare increased to $396 in the second quarter of 2014, up 2.5 percent from the average fare of $386 in the second quarter of 2013, adjusted for inflation (Table 1), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. During that April to June period, passengers originating in Cincinnati, Ohio, paid the highest average fare, $523, while passengers originating in Sanford, Florida, paid the lowest, $111 (Table 6).
U.S. Domestic Air Fares
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, BTS Air Fares and 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 33 percent of fares calculated for the second 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
Second-quarter fares rose 17.0 percent adjusted for inflation from the recession-affected low of $334 in 2009 to the second quarter of 2011. Since 2011, second quarter fares have shown little change, increasing 1.4 percent from 2011 to 2014 (Table 1).
The second-quarter 2014 fare was down 16.2 percent adjusted for inflation from the average fare of $472 in 1999, the highest inflation-adjusted second quarter average fare in the 19 years since BTS began collecting air fare records in 1995. The 16.2 percent decline took place while overall consumer prices rose 43.4 percent. Since 1995, inflation-adjusted fares declined 14.7 percent compared to a 56.3 percent increase in overall consumer prices (Table 2). See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.
U.S. passenger airlines collected 71.4 percent of their total revenue from passenger fares during the second 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 second quarter of 2011 to the second quarter of 2014, inflation-adjusted fares increased 0.3 percent. In the two-year period from the second quarter of 2012 to the second quarter of 2014, inflation-adjusted fares decreased 1.0 percent (Table 3).
Unadjusted Air Fares
Not adjusting for inflation, the $396 second-quarter 2014 average fare was the highest average fare for any quarter since 1995. The previous highest unadjusted quarterly fare was $390 in the third quarter of 2013 and the previous highest unadjusted second-quarter fare was $385 in 2012. Since 1995, unadjusted fares rose 33.3 percent compared to a 56.3 percent increase in overall consumer prices (Table 4).
Unadjusted second-quarter 2014 fares were up 3.6 percent from the first quarter of 2014 (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 constant 2014 dollars.
Table 6: Five highest and five lowest average fares in the second quarter: Cincinnati had the highest average fare ($523) while Sanford had the lowest ($111). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 10 on the BTS website.
Table 7: Five largest increases and five largest decreases adjusted for inflation from the second quarter of 2013 to the second quarter of 2014: Atlantic City, New Jersey, had the largest increase (15.4 percent) and Savannah, Georgia, had the largest decrease (-13.7 percent). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 11 on the BTS website.
Table 8: Five largest increases and five largest decreases adjusted for inflation from the second quarter of 2000 to the second quarter of 2014: Dallas Love, Texas, had the largest increase (26.1 percent) and Bellingham, Washington, had the largest decrease (-59.7 percent). For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 12 on the BTS website.
For additional data, see Top 100 Airports, Rankings or All Airports. Since average fares are based on the Origin and Destination Survey 10 percent ticket sample, averages for airports with smaller samples may be less reliable. Fares for Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico airports are not included in rankings but are available on the web page. Third-quarter 2014 average fare data will be released in January.
Table 1. 2nd Quarter Average Fare 1995-2014, Adjusted for Inflation
| Average Fare in constant 2014 dollars ($) | Year-to-Year Percent Change in Average Fare (2Q to 2Q) (%) | Cumulative Percent Change in Average Fare (2Q 1995 to 2Q of each year) (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 464 | - | - |
| 1996 | 419 | -9.6 | -9.6 |
| 1997 | 430 | 2.6 | -7.2 |
| 1998 | 440 | 2.3 | -5.1 |
| 1999 | 472 | 7.3 | 1.8 |
| 2000 | 469 | -0.7 | 1.1 |
| 2001 | 440 | -6.1 | -5.1 |
| 2002 | 421 | -4.3 | -9.2 |
| 2003 | 408 | -3.1 | -12.0 |
| 2004 | 389 | -4.7 | -16.2 |
| 2005 | 376 | -3.3 | -19.0 |
| 2006 | 401 | 6.8 | -13.5 |
| 2007 | 372 | -7.2 | -19.8 |
| 2008 | 378 | 1.5 | -18.5 |
| 2009 | 334 | -11.8 | -28.1 |
| 2010 | 373 | 11.7 | -19.7 |
| 2011 | 390 | 4.8 | -15.8 |
| 2012 | 400 | 2.4 | -13.9 |
| 2013 | 386 | -3.4 | -16.8 |
| 2014 | 396 | 2.5 | -14.7 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/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 |
| 2014 (2Q) | 71.4 |
| 2014 (1Q+2Q) | 70.8 |
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
(2nd Quarter to 2nd Quarter for fares; Jun to Jun for inflation)
| Since 2nd Quarter of ... | Duration in Years | Average Fare in constant 2014 dollars ($) | Percent Change in Average Fare to 2ndQuarter 2014 (%) | Inflation Rate Change to Jun 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 396 | |||
| 2013 | 1 | 386 | 2.5 | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 2 | 400 | -1.0 | 3.9 |
| 2011 | 3 | 390 | 1.4 | 5.6 |
| 2010 | 4 | 373 | 6.2 | 9.3 |
| 2009 | 5 | 334 | 18.6 | 10.5 |
| 2008 | 6 | 378 | 4.7 | 8.9 |
| 2007 | 7 | 372 | 6.3 | 14.4 |
| 2006 | 8 | 401 | -1.4 | 17.5 |
| 2005 | 9 | 376 | 5.3 | 22.5 |
| 2004 | 10 | 389 | 1.8 | 25.6 |
| 2003 | 11 | 408 | -3.1 | 29.7 |
| 2002 | 12 | 421 | -6.1 | 32.5 |
| 2001 | 13 | 440 | -10.1 | 33.9 |
| 2000 | 14 | 469 | -15.6 | 38.3 |
| 1999 | 15 | 472 | -16.2 | 43.4 |
| 1998 | 16 | 440 | -10.1 | 46.2 |
| 1997 | 17 | 430 | -8.1 | 48.7 |
| 1996 | 18 | 419 | -5.7 | 52.1 |
| 1995 | 19 | 464 | -14.7 | 56.3 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AIRFARES/; and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
* Rate calculated using Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index
Table 3. Inflation-Adjusted Average Domestic Airline Fares by Quarter
Average Fare and Percent Change by Quarter
| Quarter/Year | Average Domestic Fare (2014$) | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Fare in constant 2014 dollars ($) | Quarter-to-Quarter Percent Change in Average Fare (%) | |
| 2Q 2011 | 394 | 1.9 |
| 3Q 2011 | 381 | -3.4 |
| 4Q 2011 | 387 | 1.6 |
| 1Q 2012 | 394 | 1.8 |
| 2Q 2012 | 400 | 1.5 |
| 3Q 2012 | 381 | -4.6 |
| 4Q 2012 | 385 | 1.1 |
| 1Q 2013 | 392 | 1.8 |
| 2Q 2013 | 387 | -1.3 |
| 3Q 2013* | 390 | 0.8 |
| 4Q 2013* | 382 | -2.0 |
| 1Q 2014* | 382 | 0.0 |
| 2Q 2014* | 396 | 3.5 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AIRFARES/; and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
* Fares for the most recent four quarters are in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
Table 4. Unadjusted 2nd Quarter Average Fares, 1995-2014
| Average Fare in current dollars ($) | Year-to-Year Percent Change in Average Fare (2Q to 2Q) (%) | Cumulative Percent Change in Average Fare (2Q 1995 to 2Q of each year) (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 297 | ||
| 1996 | 276 | -7.1 | -7.1 |
| 1997 | 289 | 5.0 | -2.5 |
| 1998 | 301 | 4.0 | 1.4 |
| 1999 | 329 | 9.4 | 11.0 |
| 2000 | 339 | 3.0 | 14.3 |
| 2001 | 329 | -3.1 | 10.7 |
| 2002 | 318 | -3.3 | 7.1 |
| 2003 | 315 | -1.1 | 6.0 |
| 2004 | 309 | -1.6 | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 307 | -0.9 | 3.3 |
| 2006 | 342 | 11.4 | 15.1 |
| 2007 | 325 | -4.7 | 9.6 |
| 2008 | 347 | 6.6 | 16.9 |
| 2009 | 302 | -13.0 | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 341 | 12.9 | 14.8 |
| 2011 | 370 | 8.5 | 24.6 |
| 2012 | 385 | 4.1 | 29.6 |
| 2013 | 378 | -1.7 | 27.4 |
| 2014 | 396 | 4.7 | 33.3 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/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
| Quarter/Year | Average Domestic Fare (current$) | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Fare in current dollars ($) | Quarter-to-Quarter Percent Change in Average Fare (%) | |
| 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 | 378 | 1.0 |
| 2Q 2013 | 378 | 0.0 |
| 3Q 2013 | 390 | 3.2 |
| 4Q 2013 | 382 | -2.0 |
| 1Q 2014 | 382 | -2.0 |
| 2Q 2014 | 396 | 3.6 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/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 2nd Quarter 2014
Top 100 Airports* Based on 2013 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers
| Rank | Origin | 2nd Quarter 2014 ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Average Fares | ||
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | 523 |
| 2 | Madison, WI | 512 |
| 3 | Houston Bush, TX | 507 |
| 4 | Washington Dulles | 496 |
| 5 | Jackson/Vicksburg, MS | 492 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 396 | |
| Lowest Average Fares | ||
| 1 | Sanford, FL | 111 |
| 2 | Mesa, AZ | 138 |
| 3 | Atlantic City, NJ | 188 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | 192 |
| 5 | Long Beach, CA | 250 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AIRFARES/; and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Table 7. One-Year Change by Airport: Top 5 Airport Percentage Increases and Decreases in U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fare, 2Q 2013 to 2Q 2014
Top 100 Airports* Based on 2013 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers, Fares Adjusted for Inflation
| Rank | Origin | 2nd Quarter 2013 (2014$) | 2nd Quarter 2014 (2014$) | Percent Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largest Increases | ||||
| 1 | Atlantic City, NJ | 163 | 188 | 15.4 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | 350 | 391 | 11.6 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | 391 | 435 | 11.3 |
| 4 | Jackson/Vicksburg, MS | 444 | 492 | 10.8 |
| 5 | Dayton, OH | 378 | 413 | 9.4 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 386 | 396 | 2.5 | |
| Largest Decreases | ||||
| 1 | Savannah/Hilton Head | 503 | 434 | -13.7 |
| 2 | Bellingham, WA | 214 | 192 | -10.1 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | 422 | 399 | -5.5 |
| 4 | Burlington, VT | 435 | 414 | -4.8 |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | 486 | 466 | -4.2 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/AIRFARES/; and http://www.transtats.bts.gov/databases.asp?Mode_ID=1&Mode_Desc=Aviation&Subject_ID2=0
* Not including Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico
Note: Percent change based on unrounded numbers
Table 8. 14-Year Change by Airport: Top 5 Percentage Increases and Decreases in U.S. Domestic Average Itinerary Fare, 2000-2014
Top 100 Airports* Based on 2013 U.S. Originating Domestic Passengers, Fares Adjusted for Inflation
| Rank | Origin | 2nd Quarter 2000 (2014$) | 2nd Quarter 2014 (2014$) | Percent Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largest Increases | ||||
| 1 | Dallas Love, TX | 241 | 304 | 26.1 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | 309 | 369 | 19.5 |
| 3 | Houston Hobby, TX | 303 | 359 | 18.5 |
| 4 | Burbank, CA | 257 | 297 | 15.4 |
| 5 | Chicago Midway, IL | 300 | 338 | 12.8 |
| Average Fare at All Airports | 469 | 396 | -15.6 | |
| Largest Decreases | ||||
| 1 | Bellingham, WA | 478 | 192 | -59.7 |
| 2 | White Plains, NY | 789 | 389 | -50.6 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | 612 | 338 | -44.8 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | 452 | 250 | -44.6 |
| 5 | Greenville-Spartanburg, SC | 690 | 415 | -39.8 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, https://www.transtats.bts.gov/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 https://www.bts.gov/air-fares
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