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SmartAsset examined the average domestic flight price from 72
major airports over one year. Airfare costs increased by 16% on
average across the U.S. Domestic airfare in the first quarter of
this year averaged $382, up from $328 a year before.
The report found that airfare at Chicago O’Hare International
increased around 18% over the past year, which was among the top
25 highest increases in the country.
“In 2020 and 2021, everyone stopped traveling with airfares
dropping as much as 66%, and now we’re seeing the recovery from
that,” said the study's author Jaclyn DeJohn.
Prices at St. Louis Lambert International Airport increased
nearly 20% over the past year, while prices at Midway Airport in
Chicago increased just over 8%.
DeJohn said price increases have been even higher at Illinois’
smaller airports, like Central Illinois Regional Airport in
Bloomington and Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield.
“What we are seeing is that bigger airports like Chicago O’Hare
are actually staying a little bit cheaper than the smaller, more
local airports,” said DeJohn.
A couple vacation destinations hold the top two spots for the
highest airfare increases. Miami International is No. 1, with
airfares increasing around 31% in the past year. Southwest
Florida International in Fort Myers is second with an increase
of nearly 26%.
The study compared Bureau of Transportation Statistics data for
the average airfare prices that saw 100,000 or more passengers
at U.S. airports in 2022.
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