The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) recently released its third-quarter average airfare report. BTS average fares include round-trip and one-way itineraries. The average U.S. domestic airfare, inflation-adjusted, increased in the third quarter of 2022 to $383.34, up 13% from the third quarter of 2021 fare of $340.22. Compared to Q3 2019, the fare was 4% less, $398.59.
At Wichita Eisenhower National Airport, the average inflation-adjusted domestic fare in Q3 2022 increased 13% to $420.80 from Q3 2021 and is 7% less than in Q3 2019. Wichita’s fare is comparable with the fares in the region.
The pandemic forced airlines to drop airfares in 2020. The U.S. airfare fell 30%, and ICT’s average airfare fell 26% (Q3 2020 vs. Q3 2019). Fuel and labor costs have increased considerably since the pandemic.
Q3 2022 Average Fares
| Q3 2022 | Q3 2021 | Q3 2020 | Q3 2019 | Q3 2022 vs Q3 2021 | Q3 2022 vs Q3 2020 | Q3 2022 vs Q3 2019 | Q3 2000 | Q3 2022 vs Q3 2000 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Average | $383.34 | $340.22 | $279.24 | $398.59 | $43.12 | 13% | $104.10 | 37% | -$15.25 | -4% | $576.50 | -$193.16 | -34% |
| Des Moines | $378.55 | $358.94 | $266.85 | $446.54 | $19.61 | 5% | $111.70 | 42% | -$67.99 | -15% | $744.29 | -$365.74 | -49% |
| Kansas City | $395.86 | $353.61 | $259.62 | $415.92 | $42.25 | 12% | $136.24 | 52% | -$20.06 | -5% | $477.44 | -$81.58 | -17% |
| Tulsa | $405.97 | $370.78 | $288.88 | $463.84 | $35.19 | 9% | $117.09 | 41% | -$57.87 | -12% | $527.59 | -$121.62 | -23% |
| Omaha | $420.76 | $363.68 | $258.39 | $428.64 | $57.08 | 16% | $162.37 | 63% | -$7.88 | -2% | $516.71 | -$95.95 | -19% |
| Little Rock | $437.96 | $379.40 | $301.97 | $483.53 | $58.56 | 15% | $135.99 | 45% | -$45.57 | -9% | $514.05 | -$76.09 | -15% |
| Oklahoma City | $428.65 | $368.30 | $299.31 | $450.14 | $60.35 | 16% | $129.34 | 43% | -$21.49 | -5% | $533.15 | -$104.50 | -20% |
| Cedar Rapids | $430.91 | 362.29 | $289.11 | $453.74 | $68.62 | 19% | $141.80 | 49% | -$22.83 | -5% | $796.27 | -$365.36 | -46% |
| Wichita | $420.80 | $374.02 | $289.68 | $453.37 | $46.78 | 13% | $131.12 | 45% | -$32.57 | -7% | $721.93 | -$301.13 | -42% |
