Average air fares in the fourth quarter of 2007 were up 4% from the fourth quarter of 2006, reaching the highest fourth-quarter level since 2001 but remaining 2.7% below the high set in 2000 for any October-to-December period.
The numbers come from the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the average domestic itinerary fare in the fourth quarter of 2007 of US$331 was the highest average fare since the second quarter of 2006.
The fourth-quarter 2007 average fare was up 11.3% from the post-9/11 fourth-quarter low of US$297 in 2004.
Average fares are based on domestic itinerary fares, round-trip or one-way for which no return is purchased. Fares include taxes and fees.
Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares†or a few abnormally high reported fares.
Of the top 100 airports based on originating passengers, the highest fourth-quarter average fares were in Anchorage, AL; followed by Cincinnati, OH; San Francisco; Madison, WI; and Knoxville, TN.
The lowest fares in the top 100 airports were at four Hawaii airports followed by Dallas Love.
Report by David Wilkening
