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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

Economics, employment, and finance

Legacy ID
1546

First Quarter 2021 Air Fare Drops As Passenger Numbers Increase

BTS 45-21
Contact: BTSNews@dot.gov

The average U.S. domestic air fare declined in the first quarter of 2021 to $260, down 1.2% from the inflation-adjusted fare of $264 in the fourth quarter of 2020. The first quarter fare of $260 was up 5.0% from the lowest inflation adjusted fare of $248 in the third quarter of 2020.

 

Adjusted for inflation (constant 2021 dollars) the average 1Q 2021 air fare was:

May Airline Industry Employment Up 0.4% from April

U.S. airlines employed 709,554 workers in May 2021, 3,050 more than in April 2021 (706,504) and 45,541 fewer than in March 2020 (755,095). The May industry numbers consist of 598,580 full-time and 110,974 part-time workers.