Third Quarter 2024 Average Air Fare Decreases 4.6% from Second Quarter 2024

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

BTS 03-25

The average U.S. domestic air fare decreased in the third quarter of 2024 to $366, down 4.6% from the second quarter 2024 inflation-adjusted fare of $383.

Average Domestic Fares Infographic for 3Q 2024

Itinerary Fares: Round-trips, but includes one-way tickets if no return is purchased.
Breakout of trip types: one-way, 41% ($268); round-trip, 59% ($445).

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 depicting the U.S. average domestic airfare trends from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 2024.

Inflation-Adjusted Average Air Fares
Third Quarter 2024 fare ($366):
Compared to all third quarters: Down 40.3% from the highest 3Q fare, $612 in 2000.
Compared to all quarters: Down 42.4% from the highest fare for any quarter, $635 in 1Q 1999.
Start of BTS records: Down 41.0% from 1Q 1995 ($620).
Recent high: Down 16.2% from 4Q 2019 ($437).
Recent low: Up 23.2% from 3Q 2020 ($297).
All-time low: Up 23.2% from the previous low 3Q 2020 ($297).
All-time third quarter low: Up 23.2% from the previous low 3Q 2020 ($297).

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 74.9% of total operating revenue of $138.1 billion from passenger fares during the nine months of 2024, down from 88.5% in 1990.

Line chart depicting the U.S. average domestic quarterly fares from the first quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2024.

Unadjusted Average Air Fares
Third Quarter 2024 fare ($366):
Trend: Down 4.3% from 2Q 2024 ($382).
Compared to all third quarters: Down 8.4% from the highest 3Q fare, $399 in 2014.
Compared to all quarters: Down 9.1% from the highest fare for any quarter, $402 in 2Q 2014.
Start of BTS records: Up 23.2% from 1Q 1995 ($297) (compared to 106.0% consumer price increase).
Recent low: Up 49.4% from 3Q 2020 ($245).
Recent high: Down 7.9% from 2Q 2022 ($397).
All-time low: Up 49.4% from 3Q 2020 ($245).
All-time third-quarter low: Up 49.4% from 3Q 2020 ($245).

Fares by Airport

Fares by airport group:
Highest: 51 airports with 100,000-499,999 originating passengers ($374)
Lowest: 12 airports with 1.0 million – 1.49 million originating passengers ($353)

Additional data: see Top 100 Airports or All Airports. Fourth Quarter 2024 average fare data will be released April 15, 2025.

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