The 2022 annual average domestic itinerary air fare of $378 increased 14.1% from the 2021 inflation-adjusted annual fare of $332. The 2022 annual fare was down 6.2% from 2019, the last full pre-pandemic calendar year ($403).

In 2022, 317.9 million originating passengers traveled on U.S. airlines, up from 243.8 million in 2021 and 130.8 million in 2020, and down from 331.3 million in 2019.

Annual Air Fares

Inflation-adjusted
Annual 2022 fare: $378
From previous year: Up 14.1% from 2021 ($332)
From pre-pandemic year: Down 6.2% from 2019 ($403)
All years: Down 34.4% from the highest fare for any year, $576 in 2000
Start of BTS records in 1995: Down 32.6% from 1995 ($561)
Recent high: Down 7.2% from 2018 ($407)

Unadjusted
Annual 2022 fare: $378
From previous year: Up 23.2% from 2021 ($307)
From pre-pandemic year: Up 7.3% from 2019 ($352)
All years: Down 4.6% from the highest fare for any year, $396 in 2014
Start of BTS records in 1995: Up 29.4% ($292) (compared to 92.0% consumer price index increase)
Recent low: Up 29.4% from 2020 ($292)


Fare calculations by BTS
Itinerary Fares: Round-trips but include one-ways if no return is purchased.
Breakout of trip types: one-way, 40% ($271); round-trip: 60%, ($469).

Based on a random sample of 10% of tickets.
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.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Air Fares


The average U.S. domestic air fare in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $394, increasing 2.6% from an inflation-adjusted third quarter 2022 fare of $384. The number of passengers decreased slightly from 83.5 million originating passengers in the third quarter of 2022 to 82.7 million passengers in the fourth quarter, but increased year over year from 31.6 million passengers in the fourth quarter of 2020. The number of passengers in the fourth quarter of 2022 is less than the 84.0 million passengers in the pre-pandemic fourth quarter of 2019.

Adjusted for inflation (constant 2022 dollars) the average 4Q 2022 air fare was:

• Up 12.4% from 4Q 2021 ($350)
• Up 2.6% from 3Q 2022 ($384)
• Down 7.1% from 4Q 2018 ($424)

Itinerary Fares: Round-trips, but includes one-way tickets if no return is purchased.
Breakout of trip types: one-way, 39% ($279); round-trip, 61% ($486).

Inflation-Adjusted Average Air Fares
Fourth Quarter 2022 fare: $394
Compared to all fourth quarters: Down 32.3% from the highest 4Q fare, $581 in 2000.
Compared to all quarters: Down 34.3% from the highest fare for any quarter, $600 in 1Q 1999.
From corresponding pre-pandemic quarter: Down 4.5% from 4Q 2019 ($412).
Start of BTS records in 1Q 1995: Down 32.7% ($585).
Recent high: Down 7.1% from 4Q 2018 ($424)
Recent low: Up 40.5% from 3Q 2020 ($280).
All-time low: Up 40.5% from the previous low 3Q 2020 ($280).
All-time fourth-quarter low: Up 32.2% from the previous low 4Q 2020 ($298).

Unadjusted Average Air Fares
Fourth Quarter 2022 fare: $394
Trend: Up 3.0% from 3Q 2022 ($383)
Compared to all fourth quarters: Down 0.4% from the highest 4Q fare, $395 in 2014
Compared to all quarters: Down 2.1% from the highest fare for any quarter, $402 in 2Q 2014
From pre-pandemic quarter: Down 10.5% from 4Q 2019 ($357)
Start of BTS records in 1Q 1995: Up 32.7% ($297) (compared to 93.7% consumer price index increase)
Recent low: Up 60.9% from 3Q 2020 ($245)
Recent high: Down 0.8% from 2Q 2022 ($397)
All-time low: Up 60.9% from 3Q 2020 ($245)
All-time fourth-quarter low: Up 51.1% from 4Q 2020 ($261).

Fares by Airport Group

Highest: 10 airports with 2.0+ million originating passengers ($402).
Lowest: 4 airports with 1.5-1.99 million originating passengers ($363).