Third Quarter 2022 Average Air Fare Increases 12.7% from Third Quarter 2021

U.S. Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 01/18/2023 12:02 PM EST

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

BTS 05-23

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Third Quarter 2022 Average Air Fare Increases 12.7% from Third Quarter 2021

The average U.S. domestic air fare decreased in the third quarter of 2022 to $384, down 4.7% from the second quarter 2022 inflation-adjusted fare of $402. Adjusted for inflation (constant 2022 dollars), the average 3Q 2022 air fare was up 37.4% from $279 in the second full quarter (Q3) of the pandemic in 2020 and down 6.7% from pre-pandemic Q4 2019 ($411). Adjusted for inflation, the third quarter 2022 fare is up 12.7% from the third quarter 2021 fare of $340.

In the third quarter 2022, passenger demand increased with U.S. airlines reporting 82.9 million originating passengers, up 207.4% from 27.0 million passengers in third quarter of 2020.

infographic of change in US average domestic air fare price

Itinerary Fares: Round-trips, but includes one-way tickets if no return is purchased.

Breakout of trip types: one-way, 41% ($275); round-trip, 59% ($478).

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 graph of US average domestic fares, 3rd quarter

Inflation-Adjusted Average Air Fares

Third Quarter 2022 fare ($384):

Compared to all third quarters: Down 33.5% from the highest 3Q fare, $577 in 2000.

Compared to all quarters: Down 35.8% from the highest fare for any quarter, $597 in 1Q 1999.

Start of BTS records: Down 34.2% from 1Q 1995 ($583).

Recent high: Down 11.0% from 2Q 2017 ($431).

Recent low: Up 37.4% from 3Q 2020 ($279).

All-time low: Up 37.4% from the previous low 3Q 2020 ($279).

All-time third-quarter low: Up 37.4% from the previous low 3Q 2020 ($279).

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 72.6% of total operating revenue of $112.2 billion from passenger fares during the nine months of 2022, down from 88.5% in 1990.

Bar chart of US average domestic quarterly fares

Unadjusted Average Air Fares

Third Quarter 2022 fare ($384):

Trend: Down 3.4% from 2Q 2022 ($397).

Compared to all third quarters: Down 3.9% from the highest 3Q fare, $399 in 2014.

Compared to all quarters: Down 4.7% from the highest fare for any quarter, $402 in 2Q 2014.

Start of BTS records: Up 29.2% from 1Q 1995 ($297) (compared to 96.5% consumer price increase).

Recent low: Up 56.7% from 3Q 2020 ($245).

Recent high: Down 3.4% from 2Q 2022 ($397).

All-time low: Up 56.7% from 3Q 2020 ($245).

All-time third-quarter low: Up 56.7% from 3Q 2020 ($245).

Fares by Airport

Bar chart of fares by airport group based on number of originating domestic passengers

Fares by airport group:

Highest: 9 airports with 2+ million originating passengers ($390)

Lowest: 1 airport with 50-99,999K originating passengers ($351)

Additional data: see Top 100 Airports or All Airports. Fourth Quarter 2022 average fare data will be released April 18, 2023.

Standard error: Results for average fares are based on the BTS Origin & Destination Survey, a 10% sample of airline tickets used during the quarter. Averages for airports with smaller samples may be less reliable. For Q3 2022 results based on all itinerary fares, the standard error is 0.35 and the median fare is $311.18. The 90% confidence interval ranges from $382.98 to $384.15. For results based on round-trip fares, the standard error is .50 and the median fare is $406.52. The 90% confidence interval ranges from $476.86 to $478.52. For results based on one-way fares, the standard error is .40 and the median fare is $221.49. The 90% confidence interval ranges from $273.97 to $275.28.