The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released the Q1 2022 average airfare report. Wichita’s average inflation-adjusted airfare increased in the first quarter to $368.61, up 16% from Q1 2021. The Q1 2022 fare is still below Q1 2020 by 4% and is down 9% from pre-pandemic Q1 2019. The airlines drastically reduced airfares in 2020 to stimulate travel and have had to raise fares due to higher fuel and other inflationary costs. Wichita’s fare is comparable to those in the region.
The average U.S. domestic airfare decreased in the first quarter of 2022 to $328, down 1.8% from the fourth quarter 2021 inflation-adjusted fare of $335.
The airfare information is for roundtrips but includes one-way tickets if no return is purchased, with data based on a sample of approximately 10% of tickets sold.
| AIRPORT | Q1 2022 | Q1 2021 | Q1 2020 | Q1 2019 |
| U.S. average | $328.48 | $260.31 | $336.13 | $364.33 |
| Kansas City | $358.67 | $295.17 | $366.88 | $375.93 |
| Tulsa | $358.29 | $300.29 | $393.85 | $408.09 |
| Oklahoma City | $359.16 | $302.75 | $375.64 | $394.54 |
| Wichita | $368.61 | $305.91 | $384.68 | $403.21 |
