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Second Quarter 2025 Average Air Fare Decreases 3.8% from First Quarter 2025

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

BTS 65-25

 

The average U.S. domestic air fare decreased in the second quarter of 2025 to $386, down 3.8% from the first quarter 2025 inflation-adjusted fare of $401. 

2Q 2025 U.S. Average Domestic Air Fares Infographic

Itinerary Fares: Round-trips, but includes one-way tickets if no return is purchased.
Breakout of trip types: one-way, 40% ($276); round-trip, 60% ($470).

Fare calculations by BTS
*Based on a sample of approximately 10% 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. 

 

Line chart showing U.S. Average Domestic Fares in 2nd Quarter 1995 through 2025


Inflation-Adjusted Average Air Fares 

Second Quarter 2025 fare ($386):
Compared to all second quarters: Down 39.5% from the highest 2Q fare, $637 in 1999. 
Compared to all quarters: Down 41.0% from the highest fare for any quarter, $648 in 1Q 1999.
Start of BTS records: Down 39.1% from 1Q 1995 ($632).
Recent high: Down 11.7% from 2Q 2022 ($437). 
Recent low: Up 27.2% from 3Q 2020 ($303).
All-time low: Up 27.3% from the previous low 3Q 2020 ($303).
All-time second quarter low: Up 18.8% from the previous low 2Q 2020 ($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 74.3% of total operating revenue of $91.6 billion from passenger fares during the six months of 2025, down from 88.5% in 1990. 

Bar chart showing U.S. Average Domestic Quarterly Fares 4th Quarter 2021 though 2025

Unadjusted Average Air Fares   

Second Quarter 2025 fare ($386):
Trend: Up/Down 2.9% from 1Q 2025 ($397).
Compared to all second quarters: Up 4.2% from the highest 2Q fare, $402 in 2014.
Compared to all quarters: Down 4.2% from the highest fare for any quarter, $402 in 2Q 2014.
Start of BTS records: Up 29.9% from 1Q 1995 ($297) (compared to 111.3% consumer price increase).
Recent low: Up 57.6% from 3Q 2020 ($245).
Recent high: Down 3.0% from 4Q 2024 ($398).
All-time low: Up 57.5% from 3Q 2020 ($245).
All-time second-quarter low: Up 48.7% from 2Q 2020 ($259).

Fares by Airport

Bar chart showing fares by airport group based on number of originating domestic passengers in 2Q 2025

Fares by airport group:
Highest: 13 airports with 2.0 million plus originating passengers ($392)
Lowest: 13 airports with 1.0-1.49 million originating passengers ($374)

Additional data: see Top 100 Airports or All Airports.  

This is last press release for the Origin and Destination 10%. The next press release date is still being determined. It will be for the third quarter of 2025 with the Origin and Destination 40% data. To learn more about OD40, please visit these sites of: https://esubmit.rita.dot.gov/OD-US-40.aspx and https://www.bts.gov/OD-40.
 

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