US domestic airfare up 18%
- Yahoo Travel reported on April 8 that U.S. summer domestic airfare is running about 19% above last year, based on new Going fare data. - Median round-trip domestic prices climbed to $489 from $412, while the cheapest tickets rose nearly 23%, showing the steepest increases hit bargain fares. - Higher jet-fuel costs are feeding broader fare pressure as airlines warn prices could keep rising. (cnbc.com)
U.S. summer domestic airfare is running about 19% above last year, according to new fare data cited by Yahoo Travel. (travel.yahoo.com) The median round-trip domestic ticket rose to $489 from $412 a year earlier for trips departing June 13 through August 31 on legacy carriers, the report said. (travel.yahoo.com) The cheapest domestic fares are rising even faster, up nearly 23%, which means the biggest squeeze is hitting travelers who usually shop the lowest end of the market. (travel.yahoo.com) International fares are moving much less. Yahoo Travel said median round-trip international prices were up about 3%, to $1,138 from $1,115. (travel.yahoo.com) The jump is landing as summer demand stays strong. AAA said in April 2022 that Memorial Day travel bookings for flights, hotels, cruises and rental cars were up 122% from a year earlier. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA also found Memorial Day 2022 airfares were running about $160 higher than 2021, and last-minute bookings averaged $845 a ticket, versus $445 about two weeks out. (newsroom.aaa.com) Fuel is a big part of the pressure. CNBC reported in March 2026 that jet fuel is generally an airline’s biggest cost after labor, accounting for 20% of expenses or more. (cnbc.com) United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby said higher fares were likely because of the fuel surge, while other airline executives told CNBC that travel demand had held up. (cnbc.com) Going, the flight-deals company behind the fare analysis cited by Yahoo Travel, said it would be more surprised if airlines did not keep raising fees as jet-fuel costs climb. (travel.yahoo.com) For travelers, the picture is simple: summer flights inside the U.S. are getting more expensive, and the cheapest seats are disappearing first. (travel.yahoo.com)
