Low airfares are a big part of airline revenue, and 10 airports have some of the lowest rates in America. Though they might not be the cheapest option for all trips, these places offer convenience and accessibility that’s worth taking into account when booking your next trip.
“Skiplagged” is a website that allows travelers to find the cheapest flights. The site has been featured on Forbes, Business Insider, and more.
The previous two years have seen economic turmoil in the airline business, most notably when the number of travelers fell sharply during the early stages of the coronavirus epidemic. Less than 90,000 passengers were inspected on April 13, 2020, according to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint records. In contrast, the amount exceeded two million on January 2, 2022.
The most recent ValuePenguin analysis examines the changes in flight costs since the outbreak. It demonstrates that at 98 of the top 100 airports in the country, prices haven’t increased in response to the decline in demand for flying. For instance, during the last full quarter prior to COVID-19, the average airfare was $373.34. The most recent figures available show that the average ticket was little under $300 as of the second quarter of 2021.
In general, average airfare is 19.7% less than it was before to the epidemic. Discover which airports are providing the biggest discounts.
Asiandelight/IstockPhoto credit for the image.
Key conclusions
- From before the coronavirus epidemic, the average cost of air travel has decreased by 19.7%. The average price of a ticket was $373.34 in the fourth quarter of 2019. The most recent statistics available show that the average cost was $299.93 in the second quarter of 2021.
- Just two of the 100 airports with the highest passenger traffic have airfare prices surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in Keahole and Kahului Airport are both airports in Hawaii. Prices in this area are 4.1 percent and 2.4 percent higher than pre-crisis levels, respectively.
DepositPhotos.com, source of the image.
Methodology
To demonstrate how the cost of air travel has altered in the wake of the epidemic, ValuePenguin analysts examined data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Airports were ranked based on the percentage change in average fares between the second quarter of 2021, the most recent data available, and the fourth quarter of 2019, the last full quarter before the pandemic. The statistics for the quarters included in this era were also examined by analysts.
Note that all average fares are inflation-adjusted. National figures averages use data from the BTS’ Origin and Destination (O&D) survey. All airport-specific data is based on the origin.
DepositPhotos.com, source of the image.
How the epidemic has affected the average cost of travel
When compared to the second quarter of 2019, right before the pandemic began, airline travelers spent roughly 20% less for trips in 2021. In order to entice tourists who had been quarantined during the first few months of the pandemic return, the cheapest tickets were made available in the third quarter of 2020. Since then, the typical airfare has been gradually increasing.
Average airfare costs are calculated based on the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Passenger Origin and Destination (O&D) Survey, which analyzes a 10% sample of all airline tickets for U.S. carriers. Figures are adjusted for inflation and are based on domestic itinerary fees, including taxes and fees (but not optional baggage fees).
While average ticket rates have decreased by 19.7% from before the pandemic, the lowest airfares over the time period under consideration occurred between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the third quarter of 2020.
According to Sophia Mendel, writer for ValuePenguin’s credit cards and travel rewards section, “During the core of the epidemic, very few individuals were going on a plane to travel.” As a result, it’s not unexpected that the lack of demand caused airline travel prices to fall.
Along with travel anxiety, difficult regulations and quarantine procedures discouraged individuals from making trip plans. However, after immunizations were generally accessible by the second quarter of 2021, air travel resumed, which resulted in higher prices.
Airline rates “slowly began to climb as the epidemic started to quiet down and people started to feel safe going again,” claims Mendel.
According to her, the remaining 2021 statistics will show a persistent pattern of increasing airline fares, driven by an increase in holiday travel. Additionally, Mendel predicts that travel demand (and costs) will probably continue to rise in 2022 despite new coronavirus subtypes.
In her words, “well immunized and boosted passengers who take the appropriate measures tend to believe that the chance of catching COVID-19 while traveling is smaller, and are thus more at ease flying.
U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics/ValuePenguin is the source of the image.
Best airports for pandemic airfare
The average flight cost has decreased by 30% at the two airports with the largest drops from pre-COVID-19 levels. (Take note that airport-specific data only includes departures; it excludes arrivals.)
There are 38 additional airports where flying out prices cost 20% to 29% less, but these are the only two among the 100 biggest by 2020 passenger traffic where it costs 30% less on average.
Following more than two years of struggling airlines, Mendel claims that most domestic airports are keeping flight fares low to promote domestic tourism.
Here are the top 10 airports where airfare will drop the most between late 2019 and mid-2021.
Exithamster / istockphoto, source of the image.
LaGuardia 10.
- City of New York, USA
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $370.96
- Q2 2021 average fare: $277.21
- Change in percentage: -25.3 percent
Dawid S. Swierczek of iStock provided the photo.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport 9.
- Dallas, Texas
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $420.34
- Cost-per-mile, Q2 2021: $313.26
- Change in percentage: -25.5 percent
Laser1987/iStock is credit for the image.
8. Ted Stevens International in Anchorage
- Location: Alaska’s Anchorage
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $518.02
- Price on average, Q2 2021: $385.99
- Change in percentage: -25.5 percent
John Pennell/iStock is credit for the image.
Colorado Springs No. 7
- Colorado Springs, Colorado is the location.
- Price on average, Q4 2019: $407.95
- Cost-per-mile, Q2 2021: $303.63
- Change in percentage: -25.6 percent
Image courtesy of Wiki Commons user NWL757.
Sarasota-Bradenon International Airport
- Florida’s Sarasota is the place.
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $355.33
- Q2 2021: $257.90 as the average fare
- Change in percentage: -27.4
Roman Tiraspolsky/iStock is credit for the image.
5. Miami Worldwide
- the city of Miami
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $339.71
- Price on average, Q2 2021: $246.02
- Change in percentage: -27.6
Meinzahn of iStock provided the photo.
4. Orange County’s John Wayne Airport
- Santa Ana, California is the location.
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $420.56
- Price on average, Q2 2021: $303.56
- Change in percentage: -27.8%
Sanfel/iStock, source of the image
3. The International John F. Kennedy
- City of New York, USA
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $448.33
- Cost-per-mile, Q2 2021: $320.25
- Change in percentage: -28.6
Littleny/iStock, source of the image
2. International Pensacola
- Pensacola, Florida is where
- Q4 2019 average fare: $442.93
- Price per person, Q2 2021: $310.24
- Change in percentage: -30.0 percent
Flypensacola.com, source of the image.
The first is Newark Liberty International
- Newark, New Jersey is the place.
- 2019 Q4 average fare: $431.41
- Price per person, Q2 2021: $301.78
- Change in percentage: -30.0 percent
Image by Muratani through iStock.
A deeper look at the least expensive flights
While New York has two airports in the top 10, along with Newark in neighboring New Jersey, Florida has three. In terms of real dollars, Ted Stevens Anchorage International in Alaska had the highest average ticket throughout both times, while Miami International had the least expensive flights.
The third quarter of 2020 often marks the low period for most airfares. For instance, the average travel price then to Newark was just $222.86. However, all but two of the top 100 saw price increases in the following quarters. Since the epidemic lows, the highest percentage increases were:
- Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico had a 42.0% increase.
- 38.2 percent at the Dane County Regional in Wisconsin
- 38.0 percent at Greater Rochester International in New York
Check out the whole report from ValuePenguin to discover more about the changes in travel patterns during the epidemic.
WinnieVinzence/iStock is credit for the image.
How to locate and pay for inexpensive flights
Cheap flights could be tougher to find as travel volume increases, not to mention increasing fuel costs and aircraft disruptions because of a staffing shortage.
However, with the correct approaches, you may continue to uncover excellent bargains and make the most of programs that enable you to spend less out of pocket. Here are some strategies to test out:
- Read the small print. While we manage ever shifting pandemic limitations, Mendel advises always make sure your travel plans are flexible and refundable. If you have to postpone your trip to quarantine, for instance, you don’t want to be stuck losing money on a ticket.
- Keep an eye on airfare to find a bargain. Mendel advises using resources like Google Flights, Expedia, and Scott’s Cheap Flights to investigate flight since costs might fluctuate daily or even hourly. She continues, “Each of these programs has a’set price alerts’ function that will let you know when prices change and also give you advice on when to book.
- Utilize credit cards with travel rewards. Mendel advises passengers to use airline and travel credit cards to make flight reservations. In addition to the many travel benefits offered by credit cards, such as trip insurance, priority boarding, lounge access, or free checked baggage, you may also accumulate miles to use against future travel expenses.
- Get paid. Applying points you’ve acquired on credit cards from airlines or from previous trips as a member of their loyalty program to your upcoming travel might result in you flying for free.
Related:
This article originally appeared on ValuePenguin.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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