BTS Releases 1st-Quarter 2011 Air Fare Data;
1st-Quarter Domestic Air Fares Rose 8.4% from 1st Quarter 2010
Top 100 Airports: Highest Fare at Houston Bush, Lowest Fare at Atlantic City.
Average domestic air fares rose to $356 in the first quarter of 2011, up 8.4 percent from the average fare of $328 in the first quarter of 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Houston Bush, TX, had the highest average fare, $477, while
First-quarter fares increased 5.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2010, the first increase after two quarterly declines. Quarter-to-quarter changes may be affected by seasonal factors.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reports average fares based on domestic itinerary fares, round-trip or one-way for which no return is purchased. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees, such as baggage fees, paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares.
Not inflation-adjusted, the $356 first-quarter 2011 average fares were up 2.3 percent from the previous first-quarter high of $348 in 2001. Following the economic slowdown of 2001 and 9/11, unadjusted first-quarter fares dropped, reaching as low as $301 in 2005. First-quarter 2011 fares were up 18.0 percent from the 2005 low, not adjusted for inflation.
First-quarter 2011 fares, not adjusted for inflation, were the highest for any first quarter since 1995 and the second highest of any quarter. The post-1995 high was $359 in the third quarter of 2008. Adjusted for inflation, first-quarter 2011 fares in 1995 dollars were $241, down 20.8 percent from the first quarter of 1999, which, at $304 was the inflation-adjusted high for any first quarter since 1995. BTS air fare records reach back to 1995. See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.
See BTS Air Fare Release for summary tables and additional data. BTS air fare records reach back to 1995. See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.