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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

First Quarter 2026 Average Air Fare Increases 4.7% from Fourth Quarter 2025

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

BTS 26-54

In the third quarter of 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) transitioned to a new collection of passenger tickets, and launched the Origin-Destination Survey of Airline Passengers (OD40) program. Prior to the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, the ticket sampling collection was performed on a 10% basis. Beginning July 1, 2025, the ticket sampling collection changed to a 40% basis of all U.S. air carriers that operate scheduled passenger service. The Domestic Average Fares in this report and data tables are based on the 40% sampling. Fares prior to Q3 2025 will remain based on the 10% ticket sampling. More information about the transition to the OD40 can be found here: BTS OD-40 page. 

The average U.S. domestic air fare increased in the first quarter of 2026 to $428, up 4.7% from the fourth quarter 2025 inflation-adjusted fare of $409.   

This graphic shows two pictures of airlines tickets overlapping each other. The title of the graphic is U.S. Domestic Air Fares. The first comparison is the 2026 Quarter 1 fare compared against the fare from 2025 Quarter 1. The Quarter 1 2026 fare is up 7.7% from the Quarter 1 2025 fare. An up arrow is present. The second comparison is a comparison of the 2026 Quarter 1 fare versus the 2025 Quarter 4 fare. An up arrow is also present as the 2026 Quarter 1 fare is up 5.7% from the 2025 Quarter 4 fare.

Itinerary Fares: Round-trips, but includes one-way tickets if no return is purchased.
Breakout of trip types: one-way, 45% ($305); round-trip, 55% ($522).

Fare calculations by BTS

*Based on a sample of approximately 40% of tickets sold. 

Total ticket value: The price charged by airlines at time of ticket purchase.

Included: All fees and charges levied by an air carrier required for the passenger to board the aircraft.   Also, additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at time of ticket purchase. 

Not included: Fees for optional services, such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, and selecting an assigned seat on the aircraft. 

US Average Domestic Fares, 1st Quarter, 1995-2026: This line graph illustrates the inflation adjusted fare and the non-inflation adjusted fare from 1995 through 2026. The axis at the bottom represents the year. Each year’s inflation and non-inflation adjusted fare are displayed. The 2026 Quarter 1 fare adjusted to 1995 dollars is $644. The non-inflation adjusted fare for 1995 is $297. The highest inflation adjusted fare is $656 in the year 2000. The highest non-inflation adjusted fare is $428 in 2026.

Note: Q3 2025 and forward represents the new OD40% Collection fares

Inflation-Adjusted Average Air Fares   

First Quarter 2026 fare ($428):

Compared to all first quarters: Down 35.1% from the highest 1Q fare, $660 in 1999. 

Compared to all quarters: Down 35.1% from the highest fare for any quarter, $660 in 1Q 1999.

Start of BTS records: Down 33.6% from 1Q 1995 ($644).

Recent high: Down 3.7% from 2Q 2022 ($444). 

Recent low: Up 17.4% from 2Q 2021 ($364).

All-time low: Up 38.7% from the previous low 3Q 2020 ($308).

All-time first quarter low: Up 32.1% from the previous low 1Q 2021 ($324).

Other Revenue: In recent years, airlines have increasingly obtained additional revenue from passenger fees, as well as from other sources. U.S. passenger airlines collected 71.8% of total operating revenue of $45.9 billion from passenger fares during the first three months of 2026, down from 88.5% in 1990. 

US Average Domestic Quarterly Fares, 3Q2022-1Q2026. This horizontal cluster bar chart illustrates the inflation adjusted and non-inflation adjusted fare from 2022 Quarter 3 through 2026 Quarter 1. Each quarter has two horizontal bars, one for the inflation adjusted fare, the other for the non-inflation adjusted fare. The highest inflation adjusted fare between 2022 Quarter 3 and 2026 Quarter 1 occurred in 2022 Quarter 4, that of $433.

Unadjusted Average Air Fares 

First Quarter 2026 fare ($428):

Trend: Up 5.7% from 4Q 2025 ($405).

Compared to all first quarters: This is the highest Quarter 1 fare recorded, $428.

Compared to all quarters: Up 5.7% from the highest fare for any quarter, $405 in 4Q 2025.

Start of BTS records: Up 44.1% from 1Q 1995 ($297) (compared to 117.02% consumer price increase).

Recent low: Up 42.7% from 2Q 2021 ($300).

Recent high: Up 5.7% from 4Q 2025 ($405).

All-time low: Up 74.8% from 3Q 2020 ($245).

All-time first-quarter low: Up 64.4% from 1Q 2021 ($260).

Fares by Airport
 

Fares by Airport Group based on Number of Originating Domestic Passengers. This horizontal cluster bar chart illustrates the average fare for each airport group in 2026 Quarter 1. The fare for each airports group appears, from greater than 2 million originating passengers down to between 100,000 and 500,000 passengers. The Top 100 Airports fares are displayed as well as All Airports. The lowest fare appears in the 1.0-1.49 million group and that fare is $409.

Fares by airport group:

Highest: 5 airports with 2.0 million plus originating passengers ($444)

Lowest: 10 airports with 1.0-1.49 million originating passengers ($409)

Additional data: see Top 100 Airports or All Airports.  

 

The next press release date for second quarter of 2026 is planned for October 15, 2026.

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