The Average Domestic Airfare Just Hit a Post-Pandemic High

The average price of a domestic roundtrip ticket in the United States reached $669 in September, according to ARC, the airline-agency settlement network. That is up from $558 a year earlier and $624 in August, and it is the highest level since the pandemic, topping the previous peak of $629 set in June.

Economy fares averaged $608, up 21 percent from a year ago, while premium-class tickets averaged $1,562, up 14 percent. Both categories rose 7 percent from August.

Travelers kept buying anyway. ARC counted more than $10.2 billion in total air ticket sales, up 17.5 percent, and more than 25.7 million passenger trips, up 1.8 percent. Domestic trips rose 2.1 percent to nearly 16.7 million, while international trips grew 1.3 percent to nearly 9.1 million.

ARC’s chief commercial officer Steve Solomon said demand for travel remains strong despite geopolitical uncertainty and inflationary pressure. Earlier analyst commentary in Travel Weekly pointed to higher jet fuel costs and thinner airline capacity as reasons fares could stay elevated through the holidays, so shoppers may want to price trips sooner rather than later.

Sources: Travel Weekly, Travel Weekly